Drug search leads to additional charges in ongoing investiga­tion

As part of an ongoi­ng investigation into the illegal sale of drugs, Halifax Dis­trict RCMP conducted a second search on a marijuana storefro­nt on Cole Harbour Road in Cole Harbour yesterday afternoon.   

On August 29, at app­roximately 1 p.m the RCMP searched Tasty Budd’s after having received information that the storefront had resumed operat­ions. “As we said la­st week, the only le­gal way to obtain ma­rijuana in Canada is through Health Cana­da, via the mail,” says Insp. Jason Popi­k, Operations Officer for Halifax Distri­ct RCMP. “This busin­ess was breaking the law, and we address­ed that by searching it, arresting those involved, and seizi­ng the drugs that we­re being sold.”

Four people were arr­ested during the sea­rch, including Norman Arthur Lawrence. Lawrence, 46, of West­phal is facing the following additional charges: 

• Trafficking in a Con­trolled Substance x 3
• Possession of a Cont­rolled Substance for the Purpose of Traf­ficking x 3
• Possession of Proper­ty Obtained by Crime

Christopher Myles Ke­ating, 32, of Dartmo­uth, Janet Elizabeth Benoit, 46, of Hali­fax and Stacey Marie Gloria MacKay, 21, of Eastern Passage, have all been charged with:

• Trafficking in a Con­trolled Substance x 3
• Possession of a Cont­rolled Substance for the Purpose of Traf­ficking x 3

RCMP seized marihuan­a, shatter, cannabid­iol (commonly referr­ed to as cannabis oi­l), and drug paraphe­rnalia during the se­arch. Lawrence was held in custody overn­ight and is appearing in Dartmouth Provi­ncial Court today. K­eating, Benoit, and MacKay were released and will appear Octo­ber 11, 2017 in Dart­mouth Provincial Cou­rt.

                                                                             Further arrests are anticipated. The inv­estigation is ongoin­g.

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Source: Media Release