Ottawa Police Say Officers Seized More Than 54,000 Cigarettes, 52 Vaping Devices and More Than 4,800 Nicotine Pouches From a Business in the 2000 Block of Bank Street, and That Melchisedekson Fresnel, 35, Is Charged With Selling Unstamped and Unpackaged Tobacco, Possession of Proceeds of Crime and Obstructing a Police Officer (October 26, 2026)

Ottawa police say officers carried out a section 487 search warrant at a business in the 2000 block of Bank Street on October 15, 2026 and seized more than 54,000 cigarettes, 52 vaping devices, more than 4,800 nicotine pouches, loose unpackaged tobacco, Canadian currency, and cellphones and tablets. Melchisedekson Fresnel, 35, is charged with three Criminal Code counts, and the force says Anthony Tenasco, 44, is wanted in connection with the same offences and has not been charged at this time. The force published the details on Monday, October 26, 2026 at 1:00 p.m., eleven days after the search, and says the investigation remains ongoing.

Legal status: Charged. None of the three counts has been tested in court and Melchisedekson Fresnel is presumed innocent. The release says Anthony Tenasco, 44, has not been charged at this time.

The Three Counts

The release lists the counts against Fresnel as selling unstamped and unpackaged tobacco, contrary to section 121.1 of the Criminal Code; possession of proceeds of crime, contrary to section 354(1) of the Criminal Code; and obstructing a police officer, contrary to section 129 of the Criminal Code.

The release says officers from the East Neighbourhood Resource Teams executed the warrant. It gives no dollar value for any of the items seized, no amount for the Canadian currency, no count of the cellphones and tablets, and no quantity for the loose unpackaged tobacco. It publishes no case or occurrence number and quotes no officer.

What the Release Says About the Second Man

Ottawa police say Anthony Tenasco, 44, is currently wanted in connection with the same offences and has not been charged at this time. The release does not say whether a warrant has been issued, where he is believed to be, or whether he was present at the business when the warrant was executed.

Melchisedekson Fresnel is presumed innocent, and none of the three counts has been tested in court. The allegations are those of the Ottawa Police Service, as published in its release of October 26, 2026. No gang or criminal organization has been named in connection with this case.