$178,000 in Fentanyl, Cocaine, Crystal Meth and Prohibited Weapons Seized

North Bay Police Service (NBPS) has arrested two North Bay individuals and seized over $178,000, in street value, of fentanyl, cocaine, and crystal methamphetamine, along with a number of weapons, following a Street Crime Unit (SCU) investigation.

On December 18, following a SCU investigation, the NBPS Emergency Response Team (ERT) executed a search warrant at a residence in the Fraser Street area. Both accused were located and arrested during the search, with support from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Tactical Response Unit (TRU), OPP K9 Unit, and OPP ERT. The arrests were carried out without incident, and the search led to the seizure of prohibited weapons and controlled substances.

“This is a substantial seizure of fentanyl, representing an estimated 240,500 lethal doses,” says A/Deputy Warner. “This seizure was the result of an expertly executed investigation that leveraged our team’s expertise, technology, and resources, along with the coordinated efforts of multiple units. It underscores the serious threat these drugs and prohibited weapons pose to our community and the importance of the work we do to keep the public safe.”

The accused, Michael Small, 34-year-old, male, of North Bay, Ontario, has been charged with:

• Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine)
• Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking (Fentanyl)
• Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking (Crystal Methamphetamine)
• Two Counts of Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon

The co-accused, Michael Von Doeler, 31-year-old, male, of North Bay, Ontario, has been charged with:

• Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine)
• Possession of Proceeds Obtained by Crime Under $5,000
• Two Counts of Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon
• Fail to Comply with Release Order

Subsequent search led to the seizure of the following items:

• $1,530 in Canadian Currency
• Two BB Handguns
• Improvised Conducted Energy Weapon
• Brass Knuckles
• Controlled substances with an estimated street value of over $178,000, including:
  • 481 grams Fentanyl
  • 26 grams of Cocaine
  • 4 grams Crystal Methamphetamine

Replica firearms, such as those seized in this incident, are increasingly encountered during investigations and present a public safety concern due to their realistic appearance, which can make them difficult to distinguish from real firearms. As a result, incidents involving replica handguns are responded to in the same manner as those involving real firearms. Under the Criminal Code, the legal consequences for the use or possession of a replica firearm can be comparable to those associated with a real firearm.

The accused and co-accused were arrested and held in custody pending a bail hearing.