Police, Crime Stoppers teaming up to crack down on firearms and fentanyl

Crime Stoppers in North Bay is offering $2K rewards for information leading to arrests for crimes involving drugs or guns amid a crackdown.

The Near North Crime Stoppers in the North Bay area is partnering with city police to crack down on fentanyl and firearms this year.

North Bay police said Tuesday they’re seeing an increase in deadly fentanyl on the streets when attending drug busts.

“We’ve done a number of drug busts at particular residences over the last few weeks,” Const. Merv Shantz told CTV News.

“I know our street crime officers are hard at work identifying these drug houses and places where fentanyl is being trafficked.”

In a campaign video posted to its Facebook page, the Near North Crime Stoppers said it plans to guarantee the “maximum $2,000 reward for any information submitted that leads to an arrest for crimes involving fentanyl, or the use of a firearm in the commission of a drug-related offence.”

Proactive policing

Police and Crime Stoppers officials said the initiative highlights their commitment to tackling crime through anonymous reporting and proactive policing.

“Crime Stoppers has been in our community for a number of years and it’s an integral part of what we use for our investigations,” Shantz said.

Crime Stoppers statistics from 2024 show there were more than 1,000 tips from people across the Nipissing and Parry Sound districts.

Those tips led to 36 arrests and recovered more than $110,000 in cash, drugs and property.

“We have noticed a trend over the last number of years that drug-related offences have been on the rise,” Shantz said.

“It’s not just in our city, but it is across the province and across the country. We want to address that.”

Since its inception in 1988, tips to Near North Crime Stoppers have led to nearly 1,800 charges, 2,780 cases cleared, $260,000 in rewards, nearly 280 weapons seized, more than $4.3 million in property recovered and $57.6 million of drugs taken off the street.

Crime Stoppers is reminding the public that anonymous crime tips can be made on its website at nearnorthcrimestoppers.com or on its phone line 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

The video campaign can be viewed here.