Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has seized more than $57,000 in drugs after officers responded to a report of an altercation at a business in the 700 block of Trunk Road shortly after midnight Wednesday morning.
Cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, oxycodone, purple fentanyl powder and a brown-rock substance that's believed to be fentanyl were seized by city police, in addition to a 9mm handgun, two conductive energy weapons and just over $36,000 in cash.
Two men from Toronto are now facing a number of charges.
“Every one of these substances could cause death or serious bodily harm to our friends and family, and part of the reason we’ve taken an extra initiative in identifying it is so that the media can show you what fentanyl and fentanyl powder and oxycodone looks like,” said Sault Ste. Marie Police Services Chief Hugh Stevenson during a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
Police also seized a 9mm handgun, ammunition and two conductive energy weapons in the arrest.
“Part of the purpose of this demonstration is to let the public know that we’re prosecuting criminals who choose to peddle this poison, guns and drugs in our community. The message is twofold: First of all, to those that bring this material, guns and drugs, into this and our surrounding communities, the message is that we will track you down, we will arrest you and we will place you before the courts,” said Stevenson. “We want this element of society to understand that Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding area is not conducive to this type of criminal activity.”
“The second purpose of this conversation or this press conference is to our law-abiding citizens of this community: Your police service will continue to do our best to keep this stuff, these people, out of our community, keep this product away from our kids, our families, our friends.”
The two men arrested were held for bail court.
The original news release follows:
NEWS RELEASE
SAULT STE. MARIE POLICE SERVICE
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On February 26, 2020 officers with Patrol Services and Investigation Services arrested 18-year-old Omar Ghuman and 27-year-old Termaine Clarke, both of Toronto, for possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.
It is alleged at 12:41 a.m. on February 26, 2020 an altercation took place at a business in the 700 block of Trunk Road. At that time the two accused threatened
to shoot staff members and police were called.
Officers responded, located Mr. Clarke and a foot chase ensued. He was seen reaching into a bag before he was apprehended and placed under arrest. A subsequent search of the accused found him to be in possession of a loaded 9mm handgun, ammunition, a scale, a quantity of a substance believed to be cocaine and approximately $800 in Canadian currency.
As part of the investigation the second accused, Mr. Ghuman, was located at 1:15 a.m. inside a vehicle at a business in the 400 block of Trunk Road. He was arrested without incident. A subsequent search of the accused found him to be in possession of approximately 73 oxycodone pills and 1.2 grams of what is believed to be cocaine.
A further search of the vehicle found him to be in possession of additional quantities of what is believed to be narcotics. Officers located approximately 64.8 grams of cocaine, 2.7 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 27.6 grams of purple fentanyl powder, 72.5 grams of brown rock substance believed to be fentanyl, a
digital scale, $35,275 in Canadian currency and two conductive energy weapons.
The estimated street value of the narcotics seized is $57,424.
Mr. Ghuman is charged with four counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, two counts of unauthorized possession of a weapon, one count of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and one count of uttering threats.
Mr. Clarke is charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, one count of carrying a concealed firearm, one count of carrying a prohibited firearm or ammunition in a careless manner, one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, one count of unauthorized possession of a firearm, one count of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and one count of uttering threats.
Both were held for bail.
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