Three Thunder Bay residents face 54 charges after police reported seizing fentanyl, crack cocaine, prescription drugs, cash, five firearms and ammunition
Police say searches in the Limbrick Street and Rosslyn Road areas uncovered controlled substances valued at more than $94,000, approximately $10,000 in cash, five firearms and several types of ammunition
THUNDER BAY – LOCAL CRIME NEWS – Three Thunder Bay residents face a combined 54 charges following a Thunder Bay Police Service Intelligence Unit investigation into suspected drug trafficking.
Police say the investigation began in early 2026 after officers received reports of drug trafficking.
On September 2, officers searched a home in the Limbrick Street area and a property in the Rosslyn Road area. Three people were arrested while police executed the Limbrick Street search warrant.
All three accused were remanded into custody following their first court appearances.
The charges are allegations that have not been proven in court. Each accused is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Drugs, Cash, Firearms and Ammunition Seized
Thunder Bay Police report seizing:
- 180 grams of suspected fentanyl;
- 170 grams of suspected crack cocaine;
- 31 hydromorphone tablets or capsules;
- 632 clonazepam pills;
- Approximately $10,000 in Canadian currency;
- One loaded Glock 9-mm handgun with an extended magazine;
- One sawed-off 12-gauge firearm and two rounds;
- One Ruger .22-calibre semi-automatic firearm with ammunition;
- One SKS Type 56 rifle;
- One .45-calibre revolver; and
- 9-mm, .223-calibre and .380-calibre ammunition.
Police estimate the street value of the seized controlled substances at more than $94,000. That figure is a police estimate and has not been tested in court. Laboratory testing would be required to confirm the identity and purity of the suspected drugs.
Devon Foster Faces 29 Charges
Devon Foster, 36, of Thunder Bay, is charged with:
- Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – other drugs;
- Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – opioid – two counts;
- Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking cocaine;
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000;
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm – five counts;
- Unauthorized possession of a weapon;
- Possession of a prohibited device or ammunition;
- Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm;
- Tampering with the serial number of a firearm – two counts;
- Careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition – five counts;
- Resisting a peace officer; and
- Possession of a firearm knowing its possession was unauthorized – eight counts.
Kristin Foster Faces 12 Charges
Kristin Foster, 38, of Thunder Bay, is charged with:
- Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – opioid – two counts;
- Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking cocaine;
- Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking other drugs;
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000;
- Possession of a firearm knowing its possession was unauthorized;
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm;
- Unauthorized possession of a weapon;
- Possession of a prohibited device or ammunition;
- Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm;
- Tampering with the serial number of a firearm; and
- Careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition.
Braeden Mattinas Faces 13 Charges
Braeden Mattinas, 27, of Thunder Bay, is charged with:
- Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking opioid – two counts;
- Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking cocaine;
- Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking other drugs;
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000;
- Possession of a firearm knowing its possession was unauthorized;
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm;
- Unauthorized possession of a weapon;
- Possession of a prohibited device or ammunition;
- Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm;
- Tampering with the serial number of a firearm;
- Careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition; and
- Failure to comply with a release order.
What the Charges Mean and the Potential Penalties
The following explanations are based on the wording used in the police release. The exact Criminal Code subsections and the substance connected to each drug count should be confirmed from the court information.
| Charge | What the Crown Must Generally Prove | Potential Maximum Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking | The Crown must prove possession and control of the substance, knowledge of its nature and an intention to traffic it. Trafficking can include selling, giving, transferring, transporting, sending or delivering a controlled substance. Fentanyl, cocaine and hydromorphone are Schedule I substances. | Under section 5 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, possession of a Schedule I or II substance for trafficking is an indictable offence carrying a maximum of life imprisonment. This is a statutory maximum, not an expected sentence. |
| Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 | The Crown must prove that the accused possessed property, or its proceeds, knowing that all or part of it was obtained through an indictable offence. The release does not state whether this allegation concerns the cash or other property. | This is a hybrid offence. When prosecuted by indictment, the maximum is 10 years in prison. A summary proceeding carries the general summary-conviction maximum unless another rule applies. |
| Unauthorized possession of a firearm | The Crown must generally prove possession of a prohibited, restricted or non-restricted firearm without the required licence and, for prohibited or restricted firearms, without the required registration certificate. | This is a hybrid offence under section 91. The indictable maximum is five years in prison. |
| Unauthorized possession of a weapon, prohibited device or prohibited ammunition | The Crown must prove possession of an item covered by the law without the licence or authorization required. Whether an item is legally prohibited or restricted depends on its design, modification, magazine capacity and other technical classifications. | Where charged under section 91, the indictable maximum is five years in prison. The precise subsection must be checked because the police release does not reproduce the charging document. |
| Possession of a firearm knowing possession was unauthorized | This offence adds a knowledge requirement. The Crown must prove that the accused possessed the firearm and knew they lacked the licence or registration required to possess it. | Section 92 makes this an indictable offence carrying a maximum of 10 years in prison. |
| Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm | The Crown must prove possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearmor an unloaded one with readily accessible ammunition capable of being fired from it without the required authorization, licence and registration certificate. | This is a hybrid offence under section 95. The indictable maximum is 14 years in prison. |
| Tampering with a firearm serial number | The offence covers altering, defacing or removing a firearm’s serial number without lawful excuse. It can also cover possessing a firearm while knowing its serial number has been altered, defaced or removed. | This is a hybrid offence. The indictable maximum is five years in prison. |
| Careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition | The Crown must prove that the accused, without lawful excuse, stored, handled, carried, transported or used the item carelessly or without reasonable safety precautions, or breached applicable storage regulations. | If prosecuted by indictment, the maximum is two years for a first offence and five years for a second or later offence. It may also proceed summarily. |
| Resisting a peace officer | The Crown must prove that the accused resisted or wilfully obstructed a peace officer who was lawfully carrying out their duties. The release does not describe the alleged act of resistance. | This is a hybrid offence. The indictable maximum is two years in prison. |
| Failure to comply with a release order | The Crown must prove that the accused was bound by a valid release order and, without lawful excuse, failed to obey one of its conditions. The release does not identify the condition allegedly breached. | This is a hybrid offence. The indictable maximum is two years in prison. |
For hybrid Criminal Code offences, the Crown chooses whether to proceed by indictment or summary conviction. Unless Parliament has set a different summary penalty, the general maximum is a $5,000 fine, imprisonment for two years less a day, or both.
Why Maximum Penalties Should Not Be Added Together
The maximum penalty listed for an offence is the highest sentence legally available for that single offence. It does not predict the result of this case.
If a person is convicted of several counts, a judge decides whether sentences will be served at the same time or consecutively. The court must also apply the totality principle so that the combined sentence is not unduly long or harsh.
A sentence would depend on the facts proved, the accused’s role, the type and amount of drugs, the legal classification and condition of the firearms, any prior record, the risks created, aggravating and mitigating factors, guilty pleas and other individual circumstances.
What Remanded Into Custody Means
Police say all three accused were remanded following their first court appearances. Remand means they remain in custody while the charges move through court, unless a judge later orders their release. It is not a conviction or finding of guilt.
The investigation is recorded under Thunder Bay Police Service file TB26035122.
This report provides general information about Canadian criminal law and is not legal advice. Charges may be amended, withdrawn or stayed as a case proceeds.
Sources
- Thunder Bay Police Service media release, file TB26035122;
- Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, section 5;
- Criminal Code, section 355 proceeds of crime punishment;
- Criminal Code, section 91 unauthorized possession;
- Criminal Code, section 92 knowing unauthorized possession;
- Criminal Code, section 95 loaded prohibited or restricted firearm;
- Criminal Code, section 108 firearm serial numbers;
- Criminal Code, section 86 careless storage and handling;
- Criminal Code, section 129 resisting or obstructing an officer; and
- Criminal Code, section 145 release-order breaches.
