Local man nabbed as part of $2-million drug bust

The Tri-Force Drug Unit has nabbed a Fort Frances man in connection with a $2-million drug bust last month, reducing the number of outstanding arrest warrants to three.
OPP Det. Sgt. John Horne said Tuesday that Patrick Colfer was arrested and charged last week with conspiracy to import controlled substances after being released from incarceration in the United States on other charges.
Colfer has since been released from custody after a hearing in Thunder Bay. He is slated to appear back at the Thunder Bay Courthouse at a later date.
“There’s still [three] people with warrants but they do not live in this country,” said Det. Sgt. Horne.
The investigation—which centered on the illegal distribution of controlled substances, mainly hash oil, into the region—was able to break a ring that operated between Jamaica, Canada, and the U.S.
 The drugs seized last month included roughly 89 kg of hash oil, 358 grams of cocaine, 335 grams of hash, and nine kg of marijuana.
 A total of 64 drug charges were laid in the wake of 19 search warrants executed in Thunder Bay, Fort Frances, and Winnipeg in mid-October.
Among those charged was Pamela Colfer, 39, of Fort Frances, who was arrested Oct. 12 and charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and proceeds of crime.
Also facing charges are Allan Sutherland, 29, Tyler Turrie, 20, Anthony Marozzo, 39, Elio Deamicis, 40, John Pawluk, 38, Ronald Johnston, 40, Candice Cooper, 37, and Jason Hopkins, 29, all of Thunder Bay, Kurt Breton, 40, and Derrick Waselenko, 40, both of St. Clements, Man., and Jeff Priestly, 38, and Grant Kabez, 37, both of Winnipeg.
The Tri-Force Drug Unit was composed of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Thunder Bay Police, and the OPP, and included the OPP Crime Unit from London.
It also was assisted by 18 other agencies, including the Fort Frances, Thunder Bay, and Nipigon OPP, Canada Customs, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Custom Service, and Minnesota Bureau of Crime Investigation.
Local, county, and state law enforcement agencies in Minnesota also were among those involved in the investigation.