Two Dryden men charged after Sioux Lookout traffic stop leads to drug and weapon seizure

Thunder Bay – Regional News – A traffic stop in Sioux Lookout has led to drug trafficking and weapon charges against two Dryden men after Ontario Provincial Police officers seized suspected methamphetamine, suspected cocaine and an edged weapon.

The case matters across Northwestern Ontario because police continue to target drug trafficking routes and organized street-level crime that can affect smaller regional hubs and remote communities alike.

Regional OPP units involved in Sioux Lookout stop

According to police, officers with the Sioux Lookout OPP Community Street Crime Unit, assisted by the Dryden CSCU and the Kenora Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, stopped a vehicle in Sioux Lookout at about 7:30 p.m. on April 8.

Investigators said officers developed grounds to search the vehicle. Police reported seizing more than 48 grams of suspected methamphetamine, suspected cocaine and an edged weapon.

As a result of the investigation, Kris Plomp, 51, of Dryden, is charged with possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

Joey Roy, 51, of Dryden, is charged with possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and failing to comply with a probation order.

Both accused were held for bail and remanded into custody at the Kenora District Jail. They are scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

What the drug trafficking charge means

The drug charge is typically laid under section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which makes it an offence to possess a substance for the purpose of trafficking. Where the substance is in Schedule I, the offence is indictable and carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Cocaine is specifically listed in Schedule I, and methamphetamine is also treated as a Schedule I controlled substance under the federal schedule.

Under section 10 of the same Act, courts sentencing a person for a designated drug offence must consider aggravating factors, including whether a weapon was carried, used or threatened during the commission of the offence. That does not determine guilt, but it can matter significantly at sentencing if there is a conviction.

Weapon and probation-related charges explained

Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose falls under section 88(1) of the Criminal Code. The offence alleges a person carried or possessed a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace or for the purpose of committing an offence. If prosecuted by indictment, the maximum penalty is 10 years in prison. It may also proceed by summary conviction in less serious cases.

Failing to comply with a probation order is set out in section 733.1(1) of the Criminal Code. It applies where an offender bound by a probation order allegedly fails or refuses to comply without reasonable excuse. If the Crown proceeds by indictment, the maximum penalty is four years in prison, or the matter may be prosecuted summarily.

Sentencing can vary widely depending on the facts

If there is a conviction, sentencing outcomes can vary sharply depending on the quantity of drugs involved, whether trafficking was proven, whether a weapon was connected to the offence, the accused’s prior record and the Crown’s election on the hybrid charges. The most serious count here — possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking — carries the highest available penalty, up to life imprisonment, while the weapon and probation allegations carry lower maximum penalties depending on how they are prosecuted.

Presumption of innocence remains

As with all criminal matters before the courts, both accused are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. That protection is guaranteed by section 11(d) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Why this matters in Northwestern Ontario

Drug trafficking investigations in Sioux Lookout, Dryden and Kenora often involve co-ordinated enforcement because the same highways and regional corridors connect urban centres, smaller municipalities and First Nations across the northwest. Police agencies have increasingly relied on joint CSCU and organized crime teams to disrupt the movement of methamphetamine and cocaine through the region.

Anyone with information about illegal drug possession or trafficking can contact OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.