Big coke seizure in Marathon

OPP NEWS RELEASE

OPP seize large quantity of cocaine on Highway 17

MARATHON, ON, Feb. 15 - On February 12, 2007 at approximately 7:00 p.m., a member of the Marathon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police stopped a Chrysler PT Cruiser for a Highway Traffic Act violation in Patience

Township, east of the Town of Nipigon, in the District of Thunder Bay. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the driver, a lone occupant of the vehicle, was in possession of a controlled substance. The investigation subsequently resulted in the seizure of approximately 19.8 pounds of cocaine, the estimated street value of which is $ 900,000. Jean-Francois Hamel, 30 years-old of Brossard, Quebec is charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. Mr. Hamel has been remanded to the Thunder Bay District jail awaiting a bail hearing scheduled for February 21, 2007.