'I almost contemplated pulling over and kicking them out': Sarnia, Ont. Uber driver raises concerns after drug use discovered in vehicle
A Sarnia Uber driver recently found evidence of drug use in his vehicle and turned to Uber for help with clean-up costs.
Uber driver Steven Cousins said a routine call took an odd turn on the afternoon of Nov. 30, 2023.
"I heard what sounded like tin foil being unwrapped,” he said. “The next thing I heard was the gentleman rider tell the female rider that she needed to try this."
Cousins said he has no experience with drug use, but was pretty sure he knew that's what was going on.
"At first I thought it was cocaine that they were ingesting,” he told CTV News London. ‘I didn't know until later that it was actually fentanyl they were consuming in the back of the Uber."
Cousins said his ordeal started when he stopped to pick up two customers at a townhouse complex on Devine Street. He was approximately three-quarters of the way to the destination when the odd behaviour started.
Sarnia, Ont. Uber driver Steven Cousins says a police officer told him a foil and powder inside his vehicle was likely tied to fentanyl use. (Source: Steven Cousins)"I almost contemplated pulling over and kicking them out but I was so close to the destination. It just became fight-or-flight at that point. I didn't want an altercation in my Uber and so decided to just drop them off,” he said.
His next stop after dropping the customers off was at Sarnia Police Service Headquarters.
An officer came out and helped remove a piece of tinfoil stuffed in the seat. When he opened the foil, it revealed reveal burn marks which the officer said likely held fentanyl. Powder marks were also discovered on the door.
Cousins gathered photographic evidence to provide to Uber.
He was worried the residue may be a risk to himself or his customers and immediately got it cleaned up, and expected Uber would compensate him or the cleaning fee. He had previously dealt with another situation where a clean-up was required and didn’t have any issues.
“I had an animal pee in my vehicle and they processed my costs for cleaning that up, no problem,” Cousins said.
He said that was a five minute process online, but this has been a very different experience.
Sarnia, Ont. Uber driver Steven Cousins says a police officer told him a foil and powder inside his vehicle was likely tied to fentanyl use. (Source: Steven Cousins)
"I don't know if they want to investigate the people's account more they're not 100 per cent sure of what I'm claiming is actually credible,” he explained. “So I'm not sure what it is they want."
Cousins is hopeful his claim will be resolved and stressed that he has enjoyed driving for Uber and interacting with customers.
CTV News London reached out to Uber Canada on Monday and late in the afternoon received a response email from statement from Uber Safety Communications representative, Gabriela Condarco-Quesada.
In the email, Condarco-Quesada said, “Our team will be reaching out to Mr. Cousins regarding the cleaning fee.”
She included a company statement which read, “We take the safety of the Uber community very seriously, and have a strict zero tolerance policy for drug use on the app. The driver’s report is concerning and our team will be reaching out directly to the driver to learn more.”
A link to Uber's community guidelines was also included in the statement.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before Jasper can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes "for several weeks."
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Peel police say.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six figure water bill.
Health Canada warns some naloxone kits contain false instructions
Health Canada is warning some take-home naloxone kits come with bad instructions that should be ignored in favour of the correct guidance.
Paris dazzles with a rainy Olympics opening ceremony on the Seine River
Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution, Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday with a rain-soaked, rule-breaking opening ceremony studded with stars and fantasy along the Seine River.