An RCMP investigation has led to 69 charges involving ten people during nine searches yesterday.
As a result of an eight-month investigation led by the RCMP Halifax District Street Crime Enforcement Unit (SCEU) with involvement from Antigonish and Windsor SCEU, nine search warrants were executed yesterday at four homes and five marijuana storefronts throughout Nova Scotia. RCMP, with the assistance of Halifax Regional Police, searched homes on Gammon Crescent in Cole Harbour, Memorial Drive in Westphal, Frederick Avenue in Halifax and John Gorham Lane in Bedford. Searches were conducted at marijuana storefronts on Cole Harbour Road in Cole Harbour, Cobequid Road in Lower Sackville, Agricola Street in Halifax, Old Hwy 104 in Antigonish and Gerrish Street in Windsor.
The individuals involved were using the marihuana storefronts as a means to commit a variety of criminal activities including:
- Trafficking cocaine;
- Trafficking marijuana;
- Selling drugs knowing they were going to be re-sold for criminal profit;
- Selling marihuana in quantities well over amounts prescribed;
- Selling marijuana without knowing where it was coming from or what it may contain; meaning there are no measures to prevent the drugs from potentially being laced with dangerous chemicals that could cause serious injury or death to users.
- Generating revenue to purchase proceeds of crime
“These individuals have set up shop in our community operating as a criminal network,” says Inspector Jason Popik, RCMP Halifax District Operations Officer. “They are misleading the public by pretending to be professional establishments using the guise of the storefronts to commit crime and profit from the proceeds of their crime.”
During the searches the RCMP seized a loaded handgun, a shot gun, significant quantities of marijuana, chemically extracted cannabis resin (shatter and hash), cannabidiol (commonly referred to as cannabis oil), cannabis edibles, cocaine, large amounts of cash along with drug paraphernalia, three ATMs and storefront signage.
RCMP investigators arrested the following:
Jarrett Randall Shrum, 31, of Bedford has been charged with:
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (cocaine)
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (marijuana)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (marijuana)
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (cannabis resin)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cannabis resin)
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (cannabidiol)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cannabidiol)
- Possession of Property obtained by Proceeds of Crime
- Unsafe Storage of a Firearm
- Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose
- Possession of a Firearm Knowing Possession is Unauthorized
- Possession of a Prohibited Firearm with Readily Available Ammunition
- Possession of a Firearm Obtained by Crime
- Tampering with Firearm Serial Number
- Possession of Weapons Contrary to a Prohibition Order
- Operating a Motor Vehicle While Disqualified
- Breach of Probation
Malachy Nathaniel McMeekin, 35, of Cole Harbour has
been charged with:
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (marijuana)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (marijuana)
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (cannabis resin)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cannabis resin)
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (cannabidiol)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cannabidiol)
- Possession of Property obtained by Proceeds of Crime
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
- Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
- Careless Storage of a Firearm
Norman Arthur Lawrence, 46, of Westphal has been charged with:
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (marijuana)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (marijuana)
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (cannabis resin)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cannabis resin)
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (cannabidiol)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cannabidiol)
- Possession of Property obtained by Proceeds of Crime
Josh Robert Byers, 42, of Halifax has been charged with:
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (marijuana)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (marijuana)
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (cannabis resin)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cannabis resin)
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (cannabidiol)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cannabidiol)
- Possession of Property obtained by Proceeds of Crime
Connor Brian Haryett, 26, of Dartmouth has been charged with:
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (marijuana)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (marijuana)
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (cannabis resin)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cannabis resin)
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (cannabidiol)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cannabidiol)
- Possession of Property obtained by Proceeds of Crime
- Breach of Probation
Brandon Richard Lively, 29, of Beaver Bank has been charged with:
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (marijuana)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (marijuana)
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (cannabis resin)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cannabis resin)
- Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (cannabidiol)
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cannabidiol)
- Possession of Property obtained by Proceeds of Crime
Justin Wade Wile, 31 of Windsor has been charged with:
· Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (marijuana)
· Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (marijuana)
· Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (cannabis resin)
· Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cannabis resin)
· Possession of Property obtained by Proceeds of Crime
Bryan Jacob Canavan, 25 of MacKay Settlement has been charged with:
· Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (marijuana)
· Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (marijuana)
· Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (cannabis resin)
· Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cannabis resin)
· Possession of Property obtained by Proceeds of Crime
Gillian Sarah Sampson, 28 of Antigonish has been charged with:
· Trafficking of aControlled Substance (marijuana)
· Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (marijuana)
· Possession of Property obtained by Proceeds of Crime
A 33 year-old man from Dartmouth was arrested earlier today and charges are anticipated.
Jared Shrum was remanded and will appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court today.
Malachy McMeekin, Norman Lawrence, Josh Byers, Connor Haryett, Brandon Lively were released and scheduled to appear at Dartmouth Provincial Court on October 25, 2017.
Justin Wile and Bryan Canavan were released and are scheduled to appear at Windsor Provincial Court on October 17, 2017.
Gillian Sampson was released and is scheduled to appear at Antigonish Provincial Court on October 25, 2017.
The investigation is ongoing.
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Source: Media Release