Two charged after Marathon drug trafficking probe nets suspected cocaine, brass knuckles

MARATHON – CRIME Update – Two Marathon residents are facing drug trafficking-related charges after an Ontario Provincial Police investigation led to the seizure of suspected cocaine, brass knuckles and alleged drug paraphernalia in the North Shore community.

Search warrant in Marathon leads to arrests and seizure

OPP say members of the Marathon Community Street Crime Unit executed a search warrant at a Marathon residence on April 8, 2026, with support from CSCU officers from Thunder Bay, Nipigon and Manitouwadge, along with uniform officers from the Marathon detachment, the Emergency Response Team and the North West Region canine unit.
Investigators say they seized about 686 grams of suspected cocaine, with an estimated street value of $82,320, along with brass knuckles and a digital scale.

As a result of the investigation, 31-year-old Nicholas MacDonald of Marathon is charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking, and two counts of failing to comply with an undertaking.

Rylie Fitzpatrick, 25, of Marathon is charged with possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking and two counts of failing to comply with an undertaking.
Both accused are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Marathon at a later date.

Regional units played a key role

The investigation drew on officers and specialized teams from several Northwestern Ontario communities, a reminder that drug enforcement in smaller towns often depends on a regional policing response. For communities along the North Shore, that can mean local cases quickly expand into broader operations involving street crime units, tactical support and canine resources.

What the charges mean under Canadian law

Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose is set out in section 88(1) of the Criminal Code. The charge applies where police allege a weapon was possessed for a purpose dangerous to the public peace or for the purpose of committing an offence. It is a hybrid offence, carrying a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison if prosecuted by indictment. Brass knuckles are also specifically listed as prohibited weapons in federal regulations made under the Criminal Code.

Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking is set out in section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Cocaine is listed in Schedule I, and for Schedule I substances the offence is indictable and carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. In practice, Canadian courts generally treat cocaine trafficking as a jail offence, and legal summaries of Ontario case law describe substantial-quantity cocaine trafficking cases as often resulting in multi-year penitentiary sentences, though outcomes vary based on quantity, role, criminal record, plea and other aggravating or mitigating factors.

Failure to comply with an undertaking is set out in section 145(4) of the Criminal Code. It is also a hybrid offence, with a maximum sentence of up to two years on indictment. In less serious cases, courts can impose shorter custodial terms or non-custodial penalties, but repeat breaches or breaches tied to more serious allegations can draw stiffer sentences.

Presumption of innocence applies

None of the allegations has been proven in court. As in all criminal cases in Canada, both accused are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

OPP ask for public tips

Anyone with information about the possession, manufacturing or trafficking of illicit drugs, or about property crimes, is asked to contact OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Anonymous tips can also be provided through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online through Ontario Crime Stoppers.