HALIFAX – Five Nova Scotians are among 13 people arrested in a Canada-wide drug bust where large amounts of marijuana and Oxycontin were seized along with weapons and several vehicles.
As part of Operation Hagrid, RCMP in the province have been investigating this specific drug network for five months, with the help of RCMP in British Columbia. The men were arrested for both trafficking and money laundering.
The suspects had been smuggling the marijuana and large quantities of cash in checked baggage on commercial airlines. RCMP allege they were conspiring to move “a significant volume of drugs” across the country.
“These individuals had an established network operating a sophisticated drug distribution chain that has ties to organized crime,” said Inspector Mike Payne with Nova Scotia RCMP in a release Friday.
Six residences in Halifax were searched on Wednesday, and eight residences in Lower Mainland, B.C., and 13 people were arrested as a result.
The searches of homes in Halifax uncovered the following:
- Over $17,000 in cash – additional quantities seized still being counted
- Weapons – Taser and 16 firearms
- Various types of ammunition
- Over 70 pounds of marijuana
- Small quantity of hash oil
- Money counter machines
- Drug paraphernalia, including numerous sets of scales and vacuum sealers
- 2009 Toyota Camry
- 2011 GMC Yukon
- 2014 Acura IXL
The searches in British Columbia uncovered the following:
- Over $100,000 in cash
- Weapons including a carbine assault weapon, loaded shotgun and handgun
- Over 100 pounds of marijuana
- 296 marijuana plants
- 30 pounds of shatter
- Small quantity of Oxycontin pills
- Over one kilogram of cocaine
- Brass knuckles
- Two swords (prohibited)
- Drug paraphernalia, including numerous sets of scales and vacuum sealers
- Money counter machines
- 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe
- 2011 BMW 328i
- 2013 Chevrolet Cruze
- 2007 Pontiac Torrent
- 2004 Ford F150
- 2008 Dodge Viper
- 2011 GMC Yukon
- 2010 Honda Civic
- 2005 Chrysler 300C
- 2012 Mercedes
- 2010 Land Rover
To date, 14 vehicles, more than $232,000 in cash and more than 205 lbs of marijuana have been seized by the police in both provinces. RCMP in Nova Scotia seized $115,000 in cash, 35 pounds of marijuana and two pounds of hashish were seized in this province.
“This cooperative effort with the criminal intelligence section of B.C. and RCMP federal investigators in Nova Scotia is an excellent example of the success which can be generated through cooperative enforcement efforts and effective intelligence sharing,” said Inspector Mike Carlson of the RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime Group.
Kirk Edward Withrow 51, Matthew Brian Oldford, 35, Troy Scott Adam Lee, 40, Melissa Ann Murphy, 35, Andrew David Gauthier, 38, are the people from Nova Scotia arrested.
Withrow and Oldford are also jointly charges with conspiracy to traffic marijuana, possession of proceeds of crime and money laundering. The two appeared in Halifax Provincial Court on Thursday.
Lee is facing charges of trafficking of marijuana, two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficiking, two counts of possession of proceeds of crime and money laundering. He also appeared in Halifax provincial court on Thursday.
Murphy and Gauthier face charges of trafficking marijuana, possession of proceeds of crime and money laundering.
All five are scheduled to appear in court on January 20.
Stephen John Lockett, 42, Jeffrey Michael Boyer, 34, Reece Peter Germaine, 28, Douglas Kurtiss Neumann, 33, Darren Ernest Telford, 29 and Ryan Frederick Franklin, 28, are the residents of BC who were arrested.
The men have been escorted to Nova Scotia and will appear in Halifax Provincial Court on Friday.
In addition, Jason Michael MacDonals, 40, of Halifax was arrested after being observed in a drug transaction at one of the search sites. He is facing one charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking and will also appear in court on January 20.
The investigation into this drug trafficking network is ongoing.
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Though the drugs, money and weapons were carried between provinces in checked baggage on commercial airlines, police maintain they do not believe there were any airline personnel involved in the drug network.
“We have no indication at all that anybody in the airline industry or CATSA, or Transport Canada is involved in this investigation in any way,” Insp. Payne said.
A spokesman for the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) said the company doesn’t search checked baggage for drugs. They also said it’s legal to carry large sums of cash within Canada.
“Our mandate at CATSA is the security of the travelling public and it is to screen passengers and their belongings for items that may pose a threat to aviation security,” Mathieu Larocque said Friday. “Things like explosives, things like weapons. We are not mandated to search for contraband.”
With files from Ross Lord, Ray Bradshaw.
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