Earl Wynter, 49, from Mississauga is the accused in a probe Sarnia police say allegedly netted a loaded handgun and $16,000 in drugs.

Police allegedly found more than 176 grams of methamphetamine, more than 54 grams of cocaine, a loaded Taurus nine-millimetre handgun, additional ammunition, and about $1,100 in cash during a search Tuesday at a location in the 1700 block of London Line – which is on the so-called Golden Mile – police said.

“The estimated street value of the drugs seized is $16,000,” Sarnia police said in a release issued Wednesday.

The accused is allegedly subject to a lifetime firearms ban, police added.

Police said a 49-year-old man from Mississauga, whom they did not identify, has been charged with:

possessing a prohibited firearm

possessing a firearm while being prohibited by a court order

possessing ammunition while being prohibited by a court order

possessing a firearm without being a licence holder

possessing a firearm knowing that they are not a licence holder

possessing prohibited ammunition

carrying a concealed weapon

carrying a weapon for a dangerous purpose

possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking

possessing methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking

possessing property obtained by crime

Court records show Wynter is facing those 11 charges.

Wynter briefly appeared in court on Tuesday, the day he was arrested. He was kept in custody and is scheduled to appear in court by video from jail on Tuesday, records show. He hasn’t had a bail hearing yet.

The charges haven’t been tested in court.

POLICE NOTICE ‘TREND’ OF OUT-OF-TOWN TRAFFICKERS

Sarnia police, during its work disrupting drug trafficking and removing illegal firearms from the community, have identified a trend of people coming to Sarnia from larger urban areas to sell drugs, often while possessing firearms, police said in Tuesday’s news release.

“This is the second handgun seized from (an alleged) Greater Toronto Area-based drug trafficker operating in Sarnia within the last three months,” police said.

On Aug. 10, officers seized 176 grams of cocaine, 133 grams of crystal methamphetamine, a loaded .40-cal. Glock 27 handgun, and more than $27,000 in cash while raiding a home and a vehicle in the 2900 block of Confederation Line in Sarnia, in what police called a significant seizure. A Scarborough man, 35, and Sarnia man, 52, both are charged in that case.

Those charges haven’t been tested in court, either.

“The seizure of illicit drugs and a loaded handgun demonstrates the continued risk posed by drug trafficking in our community. Information from the public remains an important part of these investigations,” police said Tuesday.

Anyone with information about drug trafficking is asked to call Sarnia police at 519-344-8861. Anonymous tips can be submitted via Sarnia-Lambton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.p3tips.com.

A reporter since 2007, Terry Bridge covers courts, justice and other news for The Observer. Originally from Waterloo, Bridge lives in Lambton County and previously worked in Stratford.