Drug trafficking probe in Marathon leads to five charges; OPP seek owners of recovered stolen property

THUNDER BAY – NEWS – A drug trafficking investigation in Marathon has led to charges against five people and the recovery of property police believe was stolen. The case matters across the North Shore and Northwestern Ontario because it links drug enforcement with property crime concerns that affect Marathon, Terrace Bay, Schreiber, Manitouwadge and the Highway 17 corridor into Thunder Bay.

Five accused face drug and related charges after Marathon search warrant

Ontario Provincial Police say members of the Marathon Community Street Crime Unit executed a search warrant at a Marathon residence on Feb. 26, 2026, with help from CSCU officers from Thunder Bay, Nipigon and Manitouwadge, along with Marathon detachment officers.

As a result, Cory Andrew Exell, 43, of Marathon, is charged with possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000.

Brandin Carriere, 39, of Schreiber, is charged with possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000.

Tara Milburn, 39, of Terrace Bay, is charged with possession of a Schedule I substance.

Nickolas Rayner, 45, of Marathon, is charged with possession of a Schedule I substance.

Jenna Kushnieryk, 32, of Terrace Bay, is charged with possession of a Schedule I substance and failure to comply with a release order other than to attend court.

All five are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Marathon at a later date. None of the allegations has been proven in court. All accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

What the main charges mean under federal law

The trafficking-related charge is typically laid under section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which prohibits possessing a Schedule I drug for the purpose of trafficking. For a Schedule I substance, the offence is indictable and carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The simple possession charge is generally laid under section 4(1) of the same act. Where the substance is in Schedule I, the maximum penalty is seven years in prison if prosecuted by indictment. If the Crown proceeds summarily, the maximum for a first offence is a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both; for a subsequent offence, it rises to a $2,000 fine, one year in jail, or both.

The proceeds charge is generally rooted in section 354(1) of the Criminal Code, with punishment set out in section 355. When the value is alleged to be under $5,000, the maximum penalty is two years in jail if prosecuted by indictment, or a summary conviction sentence if the Crown elects to proceed that way. Under the general summary conviction penalty, that can mean up to a $5,000 fine, up to two years less a day in jail, or both, unless another law provides otherwise.

The release-order allegation is generally dealt with under section 145(5)(a) of the Criminal Code. That offence carries a maximum of two years in prison if prosecuted by indictment, or a summary conviction sentence if the Crown proceeds summarily.

Sentencing depends on more than the charge itself

Maximum penalties are not automatic sentences. If there is a conviction, the sentence imposed by a judge will depend on the Crown’s election in hybrid offences, the drug type and amount alleged, the role of the accused, any prior record, whether there are aggravating or mitigating factors, and the circumstances proven in court.

Police did not identify in the release which Schedule I substance was allegedly seized. That detail can matter significantly in how a case is argued and sentenced.

Recovered property investigation may matter across the North Shore

Marathon OPP say a quantity of stolen property was recovered during the investigation and officers are now trying to identify the owners. Police are asking anyone who has been the victim of theft, or who has information about thefts in Marathon, Manitouwadge, Terrace Bay or Schreiber, to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

The appeal is notable for Northwestern Ontario because property crime investigations often cross detachment boundaries in smaller communities, especially along the Trans-Canada Highway corridor.

Recovering and identifying stolen items can help link separate investigations and return property to victims more quickly.

How to contact police

Anyone with information about drug possession, manufacturing or trafficking, or about property crimes, is asked to contact OPP at 1-888-310-1122. People wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or through Ontario Crime Stoppers online.