Local man charged after investigation leads to $350K in drugs

A Barrie man has been charged after a two-month investigation by city police led to around $350,000 in drugs and a loaded shotgun. 

In the early afternoon hours of Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, Barrie police drug enforcement officers, with help from the tactical support unit, executed two Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrants as a result of the investigation. 

Police say a search of a Barrie residence in the area of Anne and Letitia streets led to the seizure of 687 grams of fentanyl, 182 grams of MDMA (ecstasy), 684 MDMA pills, 1,375 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 80 grams of psilocybin (magic mushrooms), 316 methamphetamine tabs/pills and 88 grams of cocaine.

"When you look at the quantity of what was being trafficked, it is significant," Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon told BarrieToday. "We're not talking about one or two drugs here ... This is a significant seizure." 

Officers also found a loaded 20-gauge shotgun at the scene. 

"That's huge," said Leon, noting the added danger level it presents to everyone involved when it "falls into the wrong hands."

In the interest of public safety, Leon also said there was a "measured approach" to how officers approached both scenes to execute the search warrants.

A 25-year-old Barrie man has been arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance (five counts), possession for the purpose of trafficking (four counts), trafficking in a controlled substance (six counts), unauthorized possession of a firearm, unsafe storage of a firearm, and possession of proceeds obtained by crime.

The accused has been held in custody pending a bail hearing, which is scheduled to take place by video today at the Barrie courthouse. His name has not been released as the investigation is ongoing.