13 arrested in raids; Human trafficking among charges

handcuffsEarly this morning, RCMP and Halifax Regional Police executed 25 warrants at 15 residences throughout Halifax Regional Municipality during a coordinated series of raids dubbed Operation Intercede.

The raids took place at residences in Porters Lake, North Preston, Cole Harbour, Dartmouth and Halifax, as well as Moncton, New Brunswick. As a result of the operation, 13 individuals were arrested; two arrests are still outstanding.

A total of 13 individuals ranging in age from 15 to 49 face over 60 charges under the Criminal Code of Canada and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Noteworthy criminal charges resulting from the operation include:

  • Using a firearm with the intent to wound
  • Conspiracy to traffic in illegal firearms and other weapons offences
  • Conspiracy to traffic a variety of illicit drugs
  • Break and enter
  • Fraud
  • Living off the avails of prostitution
  • Human trafficking

This is believed to be the first human trafficking charge in Atlantic Canada. It involves the recruitment, transportation or harbouring of a person for the purpose of exploitation. Police believe the individual charged is responsible for controlling the movement of a woman for the purpose of exploiting her through prostitution.

Police also note that several of the weapons offences are related to a shooting that occurred in Scotia Court on April 30.

Operation Intercede began with a robbery task force created to investigate a series of violent armed robberies that occurred in East Dartmouth and Cole Harbour between August 2008 and February 2009.

It evolved into a police operation targeting a group of individuals who were alleged to be involved in a wide range of criminal activities.

The following is a list of those arrested along with their charges:

TYRELL BEALS, 21, Cole Harbour

Conspiracy to Transfer a Weapon Without Authority – (Sec 101 CCC)
Conspiracy to Transfer a Weapon Without Authority – (Sec 101 CCC)
Conspiracy to Transfer a Weapon Without Authority – (Sec 101CCC)
Break & Enter – (Sec 348 CCC)
Breach of Recognizance – (Sec 145(3) X 16 CCC)

NICCO SMITH, 18, Cole Harbour

Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Firearms – (Sec 99 CCC)
Conspiracy to Transfer a Weapon Without Authority – (Sec 101 CCC)
Breach of Recognizance – (Sec 145(3) CCC)

KYLE GABRIEl, 22, Dartmouth

Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Firearms – (Sec 99 CCC)
Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Firearms – (Sec 99 CCC)
Conspiracy to Transfer a Weapon Without Authority – (Sec 101 CCC)
Conspiracy to Transfer a Weapon Without Authority – (Sec 101 CCC)
Breach of Recognizance – (Sec 145(3) CCC)
Robbery – (Sec 344 CCC)
Threats – (Sec 264.1 CCC)

ANDREW HARDY, 19, Cole Harbour

Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Firearms – (Sec 99 CCC)
Conspiracy to Transfer a Weapon Without Authority – (Sec 101 CCC)
Break and Enter – (Sec 348 CCC)
Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine – (CDSA)
Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine – (CDSA)
Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine – (CDSA)
Conspiracy to Traffic in Mushrooms – (CDSA)
Conspiracy to Traffic in Ecstasy – (CDSA)
Conspiracy to Traffic in Cannabis Resin – (CDSA)
Traffic in Mushrooms – (CDSA)
Traffic in Marijuana – (CDSA)
Traffic in Cocaine – (CDSA)
Traffic in Marijuana – (CDSA)
Traffic in Marijuana – (CDSA)
Conspiracy to Traffic in LSD – (CDSA)
Conspiracy to Traffic in Cannabis – (CDSA)
Conspiracy to Traffic in Cannabis Resin – (CDSA)
Conspiracy to Traffic in Ecstacy – (CDSA)
Conspiracy to Traffic in Ecstacy – (CDSA)
Conspiracy to Traffic in Ecstacy – (CDSA)
Conspiracy to Traffic in Marijuana – (CDSA)
Conspiracy to Traffic in Ecstacy – (CDSA)

TERRY COMFORT DOWNEY, 30, North Preston

Human Trafficking – (Sec 279 CCC)
Living off the Avails of Prostitution – (Sec 212 CCC)
Breach of Recognizance – (Sec 145(3) CCC)

RANDALL SAMPSON, 20, Halifax

Fraud – (Sec 380 CCC)
Break & Enter – (Sec 348 CCC)

JOHN DEWOLFE, 49, Porters Lake

Counselling to Commit Break & Enter – (Sec 465 CCC)

VALERIE SUTHERLAND, 27, Dartmouth

Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine – (CDSA)
Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine – (CDSA)

STEVEN HARDY, 25, Porters Lake

Break & Enter – (Sec 348 CCC)
Unsafe Storage of Firearm – (Sec 86(2) X 2 CCC)
Unsafe Storage of Ammunition – (Sec 86(2) CCC)

BRITTANY DEWOLFE, 23, Porters Lake

Break & Enter – (Sec 348 CCC)
Unsafe Storage of Firearm – (Sec 86(2) CCC)
Unsafe Storage of Firearm – (Sec 86(2) CCC)

BRIAN RIX, 43, Porters Lake

Possession of stolen property – (Sec 355(a) CCC)

TERRY ARTHUR “COURTNEY” DOWNEY, 30, North Preston

Discharge a Firearm With Intent to Wound Sec 244(1) CCC
Careless use of a firearm – (Sec 86(1) CCC)
Pointing a firearm – (Sec 87(1) CCC)
Possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace – (Sec 88 CCC)
Possession of a prohibited weapon – (Sec 92(2) CCC)
Unauthorized possession of a Firearm – (Sec 92(1)CCC)
Breach of Recognizance – (Sec 145(3) CCC)

15-YEAR-OLD FEMALE YOUTH, Sackville

Counselling to Commit Kidnapping – (Sec 465 CCC)

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