Eight people arrested after RCMP and CBSA intercept cocaine shipment, Saint John, N.B

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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New Brunswick RCMP Federal Operations West in conjunction with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the RCMP in the Greater Toronto Area and assistance from Saint John Police have arrested eight people in two separate drug seizures.

Approximately 168 kilograms of cocaine were discovered in shipping containers that came through the Port of Saint John destined for the Toronto area. Eight men ranging in age from 31 to 70 have been charged with importing, conspiracy to import, and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

"Through the combined efforts of the RCMP and CBSA we have been able to remove a very large quantity of cocaine off the streets," says Inspector Lise Roussel,  New Brunswick RCMP Federal Policing Operations. "This means that more than a half a million illegal drug deals have been stopped."

"Gangs and organized crime have influenced the drug trade for years," stated Superintendent Rick Penney, RCMP Greater Toronto Area Drug Commander. "We are starting to see a spill over into our daily lives and some of the shootings we are seeing in our neighbourhoods clearly demonstrate the effects illicit drugs are having on our communities."

On May 29, 2012, CBSA agents inspected a cargo shipping container where they discovered approximately 120 kilograms of cocaine.  Bags of cocaine were concealed within several wooden pallets stacked within the container.  The pallet boards had been hollowed out and filled with bags of cocaine.  The container which also contained food products was destined to Ontario.  On June 16, 2012, five men were arrested in Ontario and charged with importing narcotics, conspiracy to import cocaine, and possession for the purpose of trafficking.  Police have charged 40-year-old James Joseph Buttazzoni and 41-year-old Gary Glen Ramoutar, both from Toronto,  37-year-old Rampersaud Ramlall of Whitby, Ontario, 50-year-old Lawrence Fitzpatrick Dalloo of Ottawa, and 31-year-old Sean Mohammed Hussain of Mississauga.

All five men are scheduled to appear in court on July 9, 2012.

In a second seizure on June 5, 2012, CBSA agents again discovered another container, also destined for Toronto, containing cocaine concealed in wooden pallets. This time approximately 48 kilograms of cocaine was found. The sea container was allegedly en route from Guyana, via the port of Saint John to Toronto where it was addressed to an area business.  On June 18, 2012, RCMP arrested three individuals, 57-year-old Joseph Compton Grant-Stuart, 56-year-old Ephraim Agustus Grant-Stuart, and 70-year-old Dennis Andrew Grant-Stuart, all of Toronto.  They have all been charged with importing narcotics, conspiracy to import cocaine and trafficking cocaine.

All three men are scheduled to appear in court on June 22, 2012 at the Old City Hall Courthouse in Toronto.