Durham

Drug trafficking charge laid after traffic stop on Highway 17

By
Dan Bertrand

Updated: 

Published: 

An Ontario Provincial Police vehicle is shown driving down a snow covered highway in this undated image. (File photo/Ontario Provincial Police/Facebook)

A 23-year-old man from Oshawa faces drug trafficking charges after a nighttime traffic stop on Highway 17 last week led officers to discover suspected cocaine and cash.

Ontario Provincial Police stopped a vehicle in West Nipissing at about 11:40 p.m. on Feb. 27 after officers observing a rear passenger not wearing a seatbelt.

“As a result of the investigation, officers searched the vehicle and located Canadian currency and a quantity of drugs suspected to be cocaine,” OPP said in a news release.

Hwy 17 - Feb 27 - seizure Ontario Provincial Police located and seized quantities of suspected cocaine and cash in the vehicle on Highway 17 following a traffic stop for a seatbelt violation on Feb. 27, 2026. (Supplied/Ontario Provincial Police)

The passenger was subsequently charged with a drug trafficking offence, possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime and for failing to properly wear a seatbelt.

The accused was held for bail court before being remanded back into custody pending another court appearance in North Bay on March 2.