Millions in drugs seized in West Nipissing, three charged

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More than $8 million worth of drugs and $700,000 in cash was seized in a drug bust in the northeastern Ontario municipality of West Nipissing on Sept. 15. Ontario Provincial Police members from Sudbury and North Bay’s Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, North East Region Community Street Crime Unit, North East Region Emergency Response Team, Central and Western region Tactical Response Units, North East Region Canine Unit, North East Region Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit, Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team and North East Region Critical Incident Command executed Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrants at two separate residences in West Nipissing.

A search of both residences led to the seizure of one firearm with ammunition, two crossbows, drug paraphernalia, packing materials, residential and financial documents, more than $700,000 in Canadian currency and drugs suspected to be cannabis in various stages of production, various consumable products containing cannabis, cocaine and methamphetamine tablets, police noted in a media release

As a result of the investigation, Marc Ayotte, 33, from West Nipissing was arrested and charged with cultivating, propagating or harvesting more than four cannabis plants, possession for the purpose of distribution, possessing cannabis for the purpose of selling, careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition, knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a Schedule I substance (methamphetamine) and possession of a Schedule III substance.

Douglas Hines, 48, from River Valley was arrested and charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of a firearm or ammunition, possessing cannabis for the purpose of selling and possession for the purpose of distributing.

The accused were released on an undertaking and are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in West Nipissing on Nov. 4.

Zsanett Perger, 41, from River Valley was issued a summons and is charged with possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling, possession for the purpose of distributing and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

The accused also is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in West Nipissing on Nov. 4.

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