More illegal hunting, animal harvesting charges pending

More than 60 charges related to illegal hunting and the harvesting of bear and moose are expected to be laid in a joint investigation by New Brunswick and U.S. wildlife officers, CBC News had learned.

Six Canadians and two U.S. citizens were arrested at the Canada-U.S. border, in Fort Fairfield, Maine, on Jan. 20 and had a large number of items related to the case seized.

Some charges were laid in Grand Falls provincial court last week, but more will be laid tomorrow and in the days ahead, said Crown prosecutor Pierre Rouselle.

Six people are scheduled to answer to between 60 and 70 charges in provincial court on April 21, he said.

But the names of the accused and the exact charges have still not been released, based on an order made by Judge Paul Duffie.

Normally, when charges are filed in any court case, the details become a matter of public record and anyone who wants to know can find out who was charged and what they were charged with.

In this case, Duffie invoked a court policy to prevent releasing the names until the individuals have been served. He worries that releasing the names will tip off people who have already been arrested or detained.

New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources officials say the individuals will be served "soon."

The arrests stemmed from an investigation by 20 conservation officers with the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources, two game wardens from Maine, and four agents with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

A large number of items related to the investigation were also seized during the execution of a search warrant in Plaster Rock, N.B., on Jan. 20.

CBC has learned the items in question were animal parts, which were seized from an outfitter.