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Arrests made in drug bust allegedly tied to organized crime, 4 provinces

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Arrests made in drug bust allegedly tied to organized crime, 4 provinces
WATCH: RCMP investigators say they’ve made a “significant disruption” to inter-provincial drug distribution in the Maritimes. Police say that includes the largest seizure of MDMA in Nova Scotia’s history. As Callum Smith reports, people trafficking drugs are finding new ways to distribute them. – Feb 22, 2023

Police in Nova Scotia and P.E.I. have arrested four people for alleged drug trafficking offences, after a three-month investigation dubbed “Operation Highspeed.”

In a release, the Nova Scotia RCMP said those arrested have “ties to organized crime” and officers seized cocaine, MDMA, psilocybin capsules, paraphernalia and cash.

It said the RCMP federal intelligence unit in Nova Scotia began the investigation into the movement of drugs between the three Maritime provinces and Ontario in November 2022.

On Jan. 16, it said members of the RCMP crime reduction unit in P.E.I. arrested two men at a bus depot in Charlottetown, during which a package containing 300 grams of cocaine was seized.

Later that day, members of the federal intelligence unit in Nova Scotia arrested a man and a woman at a bus depot in Halifax.

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On Jan. 17, the release said officers in P.E.I. executed a search warrant at a home on Route 18a in Murray Harbour, where “further evidence of drug trafficking was seized.”

RCMP investigators say 1.3 kilograms of cocaine, 2 kilograms of MDMA and approximately 4,000 psilocybin capsules were seized as part of ‘Operation Highspeed’. Callum Smith / Global News

Meanwhile in Nova Scotia, officers executed search warrants that day at a business on Inglis Street in Halifax, as well as an apartment on the Bedford Highway, a home on Armenia Drive in Bedford, and on a 2010 Toyota Prius.

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“During these searches RCMP investigators located and seized 1.3 kg of cocaine, 2 kg of MDMA, approximately 4,000 psilocybin capsules, $45,000 in cash, packaging and drug paraphernalia.”

The four people arrested have been released from custody and are scheduled to appear in court at later dates.

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A 53-year-old man from Murray Harbour, P.E.I., is expected to be charged with trafficking a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and conspiracy to commit the indictable offence of trafficking a controlled substance.

A 41-year-old man from Lower Montague, P.E.I., is expected to be charged with conspiracy to commit the indictable offence of trafficking a controlled substance.

A 28-year-old Halifax man is expected to be charged with trafficking a controlled substance, three counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, conspiracy to commit the indictable offence of trafficking a controlled substance, and possession of property obtained by crime.

And a 27-year-old woman from Halifax is expected to be charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, conspiracy to commit the indictable offence of trafficking a controlled substance, and possession of property obtained by crime.

The RCMP have arrested four people and seized a number of drugs after an investigation dubbed Operation Highspeed. Callum Smith/Global News

The release said investigators are also searching for another 28-year-old man from Halifax as part of the investigation, who is expected to be charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and conspiracy to commit the indictable offence of trafficking a controlled substance.

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