Hamilton Police while conducting RIDE lanes caught a Mississauga driver on Friday night with cannabis inside his vehicle. The vehicle was stopped during a RIDE Program and while speaking with police a strong odour of cannabis was detected. An investigation was conducted under the Cannabis Act. Evidence was located to support charges of trafficking drugs. The driver was arrested, charged and released with a future court date.

Hamilton Police remind the public to be careful when transporting cannabis. The law states, “No person shall drive or have care or control of a vehicle or boat, whether or not it is in motion, while cannabis is contained in the vehicle or boat”. The exception is “Cannabis must be packed in baggage that is fastened closed or is not otherwise readily available to any person in the vehicle or boat”.

On Friday, January 11, 2019, shortly after 8:00 p.m., Hamilton Police were conducting RIDE lanes in the area of Cannon Street East and Melrose Avenue. At that time a red Ford Fusion entered the lanes and a conversation was initiated between police and the driver. The odour of freshly burned marihuana was detected by police. An investigation under the Cannabis Act commenced and police located evidence to support the trafficking of drugs within the vehicle. The driver was arrested and further investigation revealed the driver’s licence had been suspended under the Highway Traffic Act.

The driver was taken into police custody and later released with a court date of Wednesday, February 13, 2019, to answer to the charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking- cocaine. 

The driver will appear in court on Monday, February 11, 2019, to answer to the charges of drive while under suspension and drive vehicle with cannabis readily available.

SEIZED

Cocaine 3.5 grams

Cannabis 1 gram

Cellphones X2

Drug paraphernalia

CHARGED

Mississauga man, 21-years-of-age

CHARGES

Possession of controlled drugs for the purpose of trafficking - Cocaine

Drive motor vehicle with Cannabis readily available

Drive while under suspension