Two men are facing drug charges following a high-risk takedown at a south-end plaza Wednesday where a weapon — which turned out to be inoperable — was also seized.
Shortly after 11 a.m., April 5, city police say officers were made aware of "some suspicious activity" involving a vehicle in a parking lot at 222 Mapleview Dr. W., near Reid Drive.
Police say uniform officers, members of the tactical support unit and plainclothes detectives arrived in the area and immediately located the suspect vehicle.
Two men were taken into custody without incident.
Police say information had been received that a firearm had been seen and a suspected drug transaction had taken place.
The suspects were transported to Barrie Police Headquarters on Fairview Road where the investigation continued involving detectives from the crime unit.
On Wednesday evening, shortly after 6 p.m., a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) search warrant was executed at a Barrie residence by the street crime unit, which resulted in an unspecified amount of suspected cocaine being seized.
Police say the driver of the vehicle, a 41-year-old Barrie man, has been charged with trafficking a controlled substance (cocaine), possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine), and possession of a controlled substance (cocaine). He was later released and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Barrie on May 17.
The passenger, a 27-year-old Brampton man, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), failure to comply with a release order, and failure to comply with a peace bond. He has been held in custody and is scheduled to appear today by video for a bail hearing.
Barrie police say they determined that the firearm was not operable and, as a result, no firearms charges were laid.
