$1,100,000 Cocaine Bust – Names Released

(THUNDER BAY, ON) – Two individuals are facing several firearms and drug-related charges following a drug trafficking investigation in Thunder Bay.

In July 2025, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) began an investigation into a drug trafficking network allegedly supplying cocaine and other controlled substances in the Thunder Bay area and surrounding communities.

On Friday, September 19, 2025, search warrants were executed at two locations in Thunder Bay by members from OPP OCEB, Thunder Bay OPP Community Street Crime Unit, OPP Provincial Operations Intelligence Bureau, OPP Canine Unit, OPP Emergency Response Team and the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service.

As a result of the investigation, officers seized the following items with approximate quantities:

• 10 kg suspected cocaine
• 900 oxycodone tablets
• 1,500 hydromorphone tablets
• 3 g suspected MDMA
• 35 g suspected psilocybin
• Handgun, loaded magazines and loaded high-capacity magazines
• $33,000 in Canadian currency
• Cell phones

The estimated street value of the drugs seized is $ 1.1 million.

Michael GOCH, age 35 of Thunder Bay, has been charged with the following 13 Criminal Code (CC) and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) offences:

• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm, s. 91(1) CC
• Careless storage of a firearm, s. 86(1) CC
• Possession of a prohibited device, s. 92(2) – two counts
• Possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order, s. 117.01(1) – three counts
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, s. 354(1)(a) CC
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine, s. 5(2) CDSA
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – oxycodone, s. 5(2) CDSA
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – hydromorphone, s. 5(2) CDSA
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – psilocybin, s. 5(2) CDSA
• Possession – MDMA, s. 4(1) CDSA

The accused was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay on Friday, October 3, 2025.

Liisa GOCH, age 34 of Thunder Bay, has been charged with the following 10 CC and CDSA offences:

• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm, s. 91(1) CC
• Careless storage of a firearm, s. 86(1) CC
• Possession of a prohibited device, s. 92(2) – two counts
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, s. 354(1)(a) CC
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine, s. 5(2) CDSA
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – oxycodone, s. 5(2) CDSA
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – hydromorphone, s. 5(2) CDSA
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – psilocybin, s. 5(2) CDSA
• Possession – MDMA, s. 4(1) CDSA

The accused was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay on Friday, October 3, 2025.

Anyone with any information about the possession, manufacturing or trafficking of illegal drugs or firearms should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

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