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.
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.
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.
Transported on commercial airlines
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.”
