Nine arrested as police bust a major drug gang in Nova Scotia

Police arrest 9 people and seize significant quantity of drugs and weapons in Amherst and Cumberland County

February 2nd, 2011, Amherst, Nova Scotia…. Late yesterday evening and early this morning, members of the RCMP ’H’ Division Federal Drug Section and the Cumberland County Street Crime Unit (consisting of members of Amherst Police Department, Springhill Police Department and Amherst RCMP) as well as RCMP ‘J’ Division District 4 Street Crime Enforcement Unit and District 11 members, seized over 6 kilograms of cocaine and 4 pounds of marihuana as a result of a two-month long investigation that targeted a group that was involved in the trafficking of drugs in the Amherst and Cumberland County area. 20 rifles were also seized, along with a significant quantity of cash. The investigation remains ongoing.

The following individuals are facing charges:

30-year old male from Springhill, NS
● 5.1 CDSA Trafficking
42-year old male from Springhill, NS
● 465 Criminal Code (CC) Conspiracy to Commit Trafficking
● 5.1 CDSA Trafficking
40-year old female from Amherst, NS
● 465 Criminal Code (CC) Conspiracy to Commit Trafficking
51-year old male from Springhill, NS
● 5.1 CDSA Trafficking
46-year old male from Joggins, NS
● 5.1 CDSA Trafficking
21-year old male from River Hebert, NS
● 465 Criminal Code (CC) Conspiracy to Commit Trafficking
● 5.1 CDSA Trafficking
52-year old male from Springhill, NS
● 5.1 CDSA Trafficking
34-year old male from Minudie, NS
● 465 Criminal Code (CC) Conspiracy to Commit Trafficking
● 5.1 CDSA Trafficking
38-year old male from Joggins, NS
● 5.1 CDSA Trafficking

“We are extremely pleased. Any day you remove this amount of cocaine and marihuana off the streets is a good day because drugs fuel a significant amount of violence in our society,” says Staff Sergeant Roddie Macdonald, Coordinator for the RCMP Federal Drug Section in Nova Scotia. It is believed that the cocaine was destined for distribution
within the Cumberland County area. “This seizure has kept a large amount of cocaine off the streets, and prevented criminals from making a profit by selling it in our neighbourhoods,” says Springhill Police Department Chief Dean Ruddick.

Police are confident that this seizure will have a substantial impact on the drug trade in Amherst and the surrounding area. “From a local perspective we are very pleased with the contributions of the Cumberland Street Crime Unit to the success of this project,” says Amherst Police Department Deputy Chief Ian Naylor. “This highlights the benefits of the positions which have been dedicated to the Unit.” Since its inception in June 2009, the Street Crime Unit has been highly successful in targeting many types of criminal activity throughout Cumberland County. “It is the combined efforts of the ‘H’ Division Federal Drug Unit, the Cumberland Street Crime Unit as well as RCMP resources in New Brunswick which has resulted in this successful outcome,” says
Deputy Chief Naylor.

Police received numerous tips from the public that assisted in this investigation.