FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service Supports Community Safety Measures Targeting Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offences

 

WIIKWEMKOONG, ON — JUNE 18, 2026 — The Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service and the Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service Board is reaffirming its support for Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory’s ongoing efforts to address drug trafficking, firearms offences, violence, and the serious harm these crimes are causing within the community.

In response to Band Council Resolution 240 and Motion 248-2026, “Removal of Citizen,” the Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service will begin publicly releasing the names of adults charged with serious drug trafficking and firearms-related offences, where legally permitted.  This information will support transparency, public awareness, and community safety, while also allowing Chief and Council and Wiikwemkoong governance to make informed decisions under the authority of the Band Council Resolution.

This step is being taken in direct response to widespread community concerns and the continuing scourge of drug traffickers and drug mules that continue to boldly bring deadly and mind-altering poisons into the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory that inflict death and destruction upon lives and families.

Elders, families, and community members have asked for greater transparency regarding individuals charged with serious drug and weapons offences.  The public has expressed outrage and concerns about the impact that these crimes are having on children, youth, families, and vulnerable members of the community.

Drug trafficking and firearms-related crime are not victimless offences.  These crimes contribute to mind numbing and mind-altering addictions, violence, intimidation, revictimization, assaults, overdoses, overdose deaths, weapons crimes against people, and unsafe living environments.  The WTPS has responded to incidents where children and infants have been directly or indirectly exposed to drug use, overdose situations, violence, and other traumatic events.   These are innocent children and infants. These incidents have a lasting impact on families and on the safety and well-being of the entire community including the police officers involved.

We, as your police service, continue to investigate, interdict, arrest and charge these traffickers, dealers, and transportation mules for illicit narcotics crimes at alarming rates causing your police service and our police partner organizations to place many other resources toward investigating, interdicting and arresting these offenders.  These massive police resource allocations and concentration upon the illicit drug and illegal weapons offenders have a direct cause and effect upon our police service in reducing our ability to address many other community safety initiatives and public safety concerns.

As we continue to arrest and charge illicit repeat narcotics dealers, traffickers, and transportation mules, we witness the courts continue to release these offenders with judicial conditions right back into the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory or wherever an identified surety can be found.  This does not help our First Nations communities or the police service, as in many cases following such a release by the courts, these offenders continue trafficking, distributing, and dealing these deadly and mind-altering narcotics after being released back into our community or into another community.

The need for a continued combined agency action is supported by both local police data and regional public health information.  In the WTPS 2025–2026 Annual Report, the police service responded to 6,688 incidents for a community population of approximately 4,500 people.  The Service also laid 1,142 criminal charges, well above the five-year average of 582 charges.  Violent crime remained above the five-year average, with 303 violent crime incidents reported in 2025–2026 compared to a five-year average of 267. Property crime also remained above the five-year average, with 484 incidents compared to a five-year average of 428.

The Wikwemikong Tribal police service is working at a feverish rate and pace to protect our community and its citizens.  In comparison to the Ottawa police service, the City of Ottawa’s overall crime rate was 4,494 incidents per 100,000 people, according to the Ottawa Citizen and National statistics published in 2025.  The Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service responded to 6,688 incidents and investigations for 4,500 people. Our WTPS calls for service are dramatically higher than major Canadian cities for overall crime, violent crime, and officer workload that can lead to officer burn out and serious health, fatigue, and stress related injuries.  Further to that, over 1,000 of these investigations were recidivist/repeat offenders that were already arrested and charged by police for previous crimes committed, and released by the courts on conditions, released after serving time in jail, and released on bail with conditions by the courts.

The Ottawa Police/Wikwemikong Tribal Police comparison is a stark reminder that we desperately need equitable and sustainable funding to build further capacity, programs, and resource deployment that brings forth enhanced public safety. These figures also highlight the tremendous amount of great work being carried out by Wikwemikong Tribal Police officers to keep the community safe.  Our officers are often working far beyond all normal parameters as set by society in very difficult and challenging events.  Officer stress levels and these high-volume workloads can have multiple negative

effects upon the officers and their families.  Police officers intervene and are faced with life and death calls for service- they witness horrifying things, are placed in situations where they confront violent offenders, yet continue to work for their communities and citizens therein in the quest and hope that they are making a difference for good in people’s lives.  They are grateful to serve as police officers for their communities.  We continue to need the support of our citizens, our Territorial governance, our policing partner organizations, our courts, and our Provincial and Federal governments to further enhance our abilities to keep our communities and people safe and secure.

Regional overdose data further demonstrates the seriousness of the drug crisis affecting Northern Ontario communities.  Public reporting citing Public Health Sudbury & Districts and Ontario Coroner data identified an opioid mortality rate of 64.3 deaths per 100,000 population in the Public Health Sudbury & Districts area during the first three months of 2026.  That rate was higher than the Northern Ontario rate of 52.3 and significantly higher than the provincial rate of 15.6.  Confirmed opioid poisoning emergency department visits were also reported at an annualized rate of 140.7 visits per 100,000 population, more than double the Ontario rate of 63.0.

The Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service recognizes that enforcement alone will not solve the drug crisis and the violent crime crisis caused by it.  This initiative is part of a broader community response that includes enforcement, prevention, education, offender management, support services, and partnerships.  It also involves a greater role to prevent a “revolving door” judicial system that our citizens often mention and blame the police for -yet is not in our ability to order even when we oppose an individual’s release.  Our courts have that responsibility in law.  We have many examples of police arresting and charging drug traffickers and violent criminals and opposing their bail or release, yet they were released by the court under court-imposed conditions.  It is the courts decision to either release or further detain these violent offenders and drug trafficking felons.   In December 2024, WTPS launched its Comprehensive Drug Strategy to address drug activity through a coordinated and community-focused approach.

“Our community has made it clear that drug trafficking, firearms offences, and violence will not be accepted in Wiikwemkoong,” said Chief of Police Ron Gignac. “The release of names for adults charged with these serious offences is about transparency, accountability, and community safety.  Families and our citizens have the right to know when individuals are charged with crimes that place children, Elders, and vulnerable people at risk.”

The decision to publicly release names will apply to adult accused persons charged with serious drug and firearms offences, including but not limited to:

  • Trafficking or possession for the purpose of trafficking-controlled substances;
  • Importing, transporting, or distributing controlled substances within the community;
  • Firearms offences connected to drug trafficking, violence, intimidation, or public safety risk;
  • Unauthorized possession of firearms, loaded firearms, restricted or prohibited firearms, or firearms used in the commission of an offence.

All persons charged are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.  WTPS will continue to follow all legal requirements, including publication bans, Youth Criminal Justice Act restrictions, victim privacy considerations, investigative integrity, and court-related limitations.

The Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service will continue to work with Chief and Council through our Police Service Board, and directly, with community leadership, Elders, families, health partners, addiction services, schools, and justice partners to address the root causes of drug-related harm while holding serious offenders accountable.

Community members are encouraged to report drug trafficking, firearms offences, firearms possession, and suspicious activity to police.  Information can be provided directly to the Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service at 705-370-3141, anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or through the WTPS Online Reporting Tool at www.wtps.ca by selecting “Online Reporting” or “Report Here.”  Online reporting should only be used when there is no emergency, no immediate threat to safety, and no crime in progress.  For emergencies, call 911.