ONTARIO-Five people, including two from Toronto and one from Montreal, are facing a total of 31 firearms and drug trafficking charges after police executed search warrants at two residences in the east end of Thunder Bay.
Earlier this month, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-led Provincial Joint Forces Guns and Gangs Enforcement Team (PGNG), comprised of members of 20 police services, including Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) and Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) began an investigation into drug trafficking activity in Thunder Bay. On September 19, 2024, two search warrants were executed at two residences on Finlayson Street and Heron Street by the OPP PGNG, NAPS and TBPS Emergency Tactical Unit.
Police seized two loaded handguns, ammunition, cell phones, an extended magazine, a small quantity of suspected fentanyl and approximately $10,000 in Canadian currency.
Travas Gayle, age 34 of Toronto, has been charged with the following seven offences contrary to the Criminal Code (CC):
- Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm
- Careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition
- Knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose
- Possession of loaded prohibited or restricted firearm
- Possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000
- Possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order
Joanna-Marie Zannie, age 38 of Thunder Bay, Khalad Haouari, age 22 of Toronto and Gregory Rule, age 59 of Thunder Bay, and a young person, age 14 of Montreal, Quebec, have each been charged with the following six offences contrary to the CC:
- Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm
- Careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition
- Knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose
- Possession of loaded prohibited or restricted firearm
- Possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000
The accused were remanded into custody and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay on later dates.
Anyone with any information about the possession, manufacturing or trafficking of illegal drugs or firearms should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
