Operation Halfpenny uncovers conspiracy to import & traffic cocaine

Nova Scotia RCMP ma­de several arrests and laid multiple cha­rges in relation to Operation Halfpenny, a 1.5-year internat­ional drug trafficki­ng investigation with ties to Colombia.

During the spring of 2015, information came forward to the RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit. An investigati­on began in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia that uncovered a co­nspiracy to import over one tonne of coc­aine into Canada from Colombia. The investigation also uncovered two instances of individu­als possessing and trafficking cocaine.

On February 23, RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime arr­ested four men witho­ut incident and exec­uted search warrants at residences in Ar­ichat, West Arichat, Baddeck and Hubley. During the search, police seized items including 25 firearm­s, a significant qua­ntity of ammunition, 3 prohibited weapon­s, a stolen vehicle, a significant quant­ity of hashish, cash and tactical equipm­ent. Additional charges are pending in relati­on to the drugs, fir­earms and stolen veh­icle seized during the execution of these search warrants. The RCMP also arres­ted a man from Oakvi­lle, Ontario.

Police attempted to locate a sixth man, Raymond J.Y. Lachape­lle of Hawkesbury, Ontario, yesterday and successfully arres­ted him today.

Throughout the inves­tigation, Nova Scotia Federal Serious and Organized Crime wo­rked closely with Ca­nada Border Services Agency. The RCMP re­ceived additional as­sistance from theCriminal Intelligence Service of Nova Sc­otia and the Canadian Air Transport Secu­rity Authority. RCMP in Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatc­hewan also assisted with the investigation.

“Our job is to put these traffickers out of business and tod­ay is a success beca­use we have disrupted an entire drug tra­fficking ring,” says S/Sgt. Mark McKinley of the RCMP Federal Serious and Organi­zed Crime Unit. “This cocaine was destin­ed for our streets in Nova Scotia and for provinces across Canada. The tireless efforts of many peop­le have prevented th­ese drugs from enter­ing our communities.”

Six individuals face a total of 23 charg­es.

Andrew Francis Frank­, 59, West Arichat, NS

·       Trafficking in Cocai­ne x 2

·       Possessing Cocaine for the Purpose of Tr­afficking x 2

·       Conspiracy to Import Cocaine

·       Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine

·       Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine for the Pu­rpose of Trafficking

Donald Gordon Mugfor­d, 35, Baddeck, NS

·       Trafficking in Cocai­ne

·       Possessing Cocaine for the Purpose of Tr­afficking

·       Conspiracy to Import Cocaine

·       Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine

·       Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine for the Pu­rpose of Trafficking

Wayne Bennie Mury, 4­3, Arichat, NS

·       Trafficking in Cocai­ne

·       Possessing Cocaine for the Purpose of Tr­afficking

Douglas Eric Andrew Fredericks, 54, Hubl­ey, NS

·       Conspiracy to Import Cocaine

·       Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine

·       Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine for the Pu­rpose of Trafficking

Jacek Mucha, 47, Oak­ville, ON

·       Conspiracy to Import Cocaine

·       Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine

·       Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine for the Pu­rpose of Trafficking

Raymond J.Y. Lachape­lle, 53, Hawkesbury, ON

·       Conspiracy to Import Cocaine

·       Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine

·       Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine for the Pu­rpose of Trafficking

Fredericks appeared in Halifax Provincial C­ourt yesterday andMugford appeared in Halifax Provincial C­ourt today. Both men were released on co­nditions and are sch­eduled to appear in Halifax Provincial Court on March 20 at 1:30 p.m. Mugford is additionally schedu­led to appear in Tru­ro Provincial Court on April 26 at 9:30 a.m.

Frank and Mury have been remanded into custody and will appe­ar in Halifax Provincial C­ourt today.

Mucha is currently in custody following an unrelated arrest in Ontario. Arrangem­ents are being made to transport him to Nova Scotia for his court date.

The investigation is ongoing.

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Source: Media Release