On the May 26, 2021, at 10:30 p.m., the Hawkesbury Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were called to assist at the Long Sault Bridge in the Town of Hawkesbury. Officers stopped a vehicle from Quebec that was travelling through the Provincial Boarder Check Point.

Police investigation revealed that the five occupants were in possession of Cannabis as well as a loaded 9mm handgun as well as a loaded blank revolver.

Redha Merzoug and Richer Ngoc-Nguyen, both 20 years old from Montreal and Ala-Eddine Hichem Benaadi, 22 years old, Brohim Oudha, 20 years old, and Ryad Tazibet 22 years old, all from St-Leonard, Quebec are charged with the following Criminal Code offences:

• Occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was prohibited or restricted
• Possession of loaded prohibited or restricted firearm
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm
• Knowledge of unauthorized possession of firearm
• Possession of a firearm, obtained by Possession of property obtained by crime
• Possession of a property obtained by crime – 3 counts
• Transport firearm or ammunition in a careless manner
• Breach of firearms regulation – transport firearm or restricted weapon
• Carrying concealed weapon
• Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose

Benaadi was given a further charge of:

• Fail to comply with probation order -Transport firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition in a careless manner

The accused were released and have a court date of June 30, 2021 at the Ontario Court of Justice in l’Orignal.

Ngoc-Nguyen was given a further charge of:

• Obstruct Peace Officer

The accused was held for bail, with a court date is June 11, 2021 at the Ontario Court of Justice in l’Orignal.