ORILLIA COCAINE BUST BIGGEST EVER IN CENTRAL ONTARIO: OPP

Cops Seize More Than $163K Worth Of Coke

ORILLIA The seizure of more than $163,000 worth of cocaine from a
unit in Orillia's Colborne Cross apartments Thursday is the largest
in Ontario Provincial Police history.

Officers from the Huronia Combined Forces Drug Unit, Mnjikaning
police, Orillia OPP, the canine unit and the Central Region Crime
Team searched an apartment at 105 Colborne St. around 4 p.m.

They arrested a 32-year-old Orillia man and seized almost 1.1
kilograms of crack cocaine, 344 grams of powdered cocaine and a small
amount of marijuana.

The estimated street value of the powdered cocaine is $34,400, and
$129,192 for the crack cocaine.

"It's the largest crack seizure I've seen in Central Ontario, and
I've been doing this a long time," said Det. Sgt. James Ciotka of the
Huronia Combined Forces Drug Unit.

"We didn't think we could find this in Orillia or anywhere in Central Region."

The size of the stash was unusual, Ciotka said, because a dealer
would normally have about half an ounce in his or her possession, and
it doesn't last long because they need a fix every three or four hours.

The suspect could be distributing beyond Orillia, he added, as far as
Mnjikaning, Bracebridge and Huntsville.

In addition to the drugs, $5,490 in cash, four digital scales,
packaging material, cellphones and two butterfly knives were seized.

Neighbours, who didn't want to be named for fear of reprisal, said
they saw police take people out in handcuffs, but thought it was a
marijuana bust.

There are signs posted in the hallways warning tenants drug use could
get them evicted.

"It's so scary because our superintendent is not living here, so he
doesn't know what happens in the apartment," said one woman.

"It's been so quiet. Yesterday was the first time cops have come."

A few new tenants just moved in with young children, she added.

The investigation is continuing and additional charges are pending.

The accused has been charged with possession for the purpose of
trafficking cocaine, possession of marijuana and possession of a
prohibited weapon.