Who stashed $200K worth of pills in a N.B. bush? Police haven't ruled out 'a very large drone'
Drugs, believed to be meth, were found in West Branch, Kent County, during search for unrelated investigation
RCMP in Richibucto continue to investigate how 40,000 pills with an estimated street value of $200,000 ended up in a wooded area, but suspect they were left there for pick up and doubt they were dropped by a drone.
"Unless it was a very large drone," said Sgt. Guillaume Bélanger, noting the pills, believed to be methamphetamine, weighed about 18 kilograms.
That "would be too heavy for most drones that are owned by most people around here," he said.
Officers stumbled upon the drugs near West Branch Road, in West Branch, about 19 kilometres southwest of Richibucto, Sunday while searching the remote wooded area as part of an unrelated investigation.
Bélanger declined to divulge any information about the other investigation, including whether it was drug-related, or say whether police were there as the result of a tip.
Found bundled in bushes
The drugs were discovered in the bushes, he said. Numerous clear, zip-top, sandwich-sized plastic bags, each filled with pills, were bundled together in a larger container he declined to describe, citing the integrity of the investigation.
Police have not made any arrests and don't have any suspects yet, Bélanger said.
"It's certain that some people know where the drugs are coming from and where the drugs [were] supposed to go. So that's the information that we're trying to get."
Highly addictive, dangerous drug
Each pill goes for between $3 and $5 on the street.
It's the largest drug seizure Bélanger has seen in the year he's been in Richibucto.
"And it's a drug that is highly addictive, and [a] dangerous substance," he said. "So it's very fortunate that these drugs are out of the streets at this point."
Methamphetamine is a stimulant that makes people feel euphoric, full of energy and alert. But the effect wears off quickly, leading to a "crash" that can include aggression, hallucinations, paranoia and insomnia. This can lead to repeated use.
In the long term it can cause brain damage, dental erosion and skin lesions.
Seek public's help
The meth and overall drug problem is no worse in Richibucto than any other community, according to Bélanger, but drugs anywhere contribute to an "increase of violence and criminal behaviour and significant health concerns, including addiction, mental health struggles and overdose risks," he said.
"So any quantity of drugs is definitely a priority for the RCMP, and we're trying our best to find where it's coming from" to disrupt the influx.
Police are seeking the public's help, hoping to speak with anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in that area in recent months.
Anyone with information is asked to contact their local police. They can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).