Police estimate the suspected cocaine, crack cocaine and fentanyl seized during an October 30 operation had a street value of $370,000
THUNDER BAY — CRIME REPORTS — Three people, including a 17-year-old, face charges after an OPP-led investigation resulted in the seizure of a handgun, ammunition and suspected drugs valued by police at approximately $370,000.
Members of the Provincial Guns and Gangs Enforcement Team, assisted by the Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement Squad, conducted coordinated enforcement in Thunder Bay on Friday, October 30, 2026. Police arrested three people suspected of trafficking controlled substances in the region.
Police reported seizing:
- Approximately 3.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine;
- Approximately 432 grams of suspected crack cocaine;
- Approximately 14 grams of suspected fentanyl;
- A handgun;
- An extended-capacity magazine;
- Ammunition; and
- Four cellular devices.
Jontae McLean, 19, of Brampton, and a 17-year-old from Brampton each face seven firearm and weapon charges, along with separate charges of possessing cocaine and fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking.
McLean was held for a bail hearing and is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay on Monday, November 9, 2026. The young person was released and is scheduled to appear at a later date.
Boyd Alexander, 34, of Whitby, is charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Alexander was held for a bail hearing, with a court appearance scheduled for Friday, November 6, 2026, in Thunder Bay.
The young person’s identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
All three accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The charges reported against McLean and the young person are explained below. The prison terms shown are adult maximums for convictions by indictment, the procedure used for more serious prosecutions. Youth sentencing rules are different.
| Charge | What it means | Maximum adult prison term |
|---|---|---|
| Possession for the purpose of trafficking — cocaine and fentanyl, CDSA s. 5(2) | Knowingly possessing a controlled substance with the intention of unlawfully selling, giving, transferring or otherwise trafficking it. Cocaine and fentanyl are Schedule I substances. | Life imprisonmentfor each offence. |
| Careless storage of a firearm, Criminal Code s. 86(1) | Storing a firearm carelessly or without reasonable safety precautions, without a lawful excuse. | Two years for a first offence; five years for a subsequent offence. |
| Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, s. 88 | Possessing a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace or to commit an offence. | 10 years. |
| Unauthorized possession of a firearm, s. 91(1) | Possessing a firearm without the required licence or, where required, its registration certificate. | Five years. |
| Possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized, s. 92(1) | Possessing a firearm while knowing the required licence or registration is missing. | 10 years. |
| Possession of a loaded restricted firearm, s. 95(1) | Possessing a loaded restricted firearm, or an unloaded one with readily accessible usable ammunition, without the required authorization and registration. | 14 years. |
| Unauthorized possession of a prohibited device, s. 91(2) | Possessing a device that firearms law classifies as prohibited without the required licence. | Five years. |
| Possession of a firearm with an altered, defaced or removed serial number, s. 108(1)(b) | Possessing a firearm while knowing its serial number has been altered, defaced or removed, without a lawful excuse. | Five years. |
The firearm and weapon charges listed above, except section 92, can also proceed by summary conviction. For an adult, that generally carries a maximum of two years less a day in jail, a $5,000 fine, or both.
These maximums are legal ceilings, not automatic sentences. Any sentence would depend on the offences proven, the circumstances and the applicable sentencing rules.
Different rules apply to the 17-year-old. Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, a custody and community supervision order can total up to two years for these firearm offences, or three years for the drug offences, which carry an adult maximum of life imprisonment. These periods include both custody and supervision in the community.
An adult sentence for a young person would require a Crown application and court approval under the Act following a conviction.
Anyone with information about the possession, manufacture or trafficking of illicit drugs is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
