RCMP bust 8 N.B. family members on 57 weapons, drug charges
Eight members of a notorious Salisbury family are facing a lengthy string of charges after 130 RCMP officers stormed eight different locations in the small village west of Moncton on Thursday.
Police have charged members of the Tingley clan with 57 counts, including conspiracy to traffic cocaine, OxyContin, marijuana, contraband tobacco and firearms.
A number of arsons in the area are also part of the investigation but no charges have been laid yet.
The police raid occurred early Thursday morning as 130 officers from across the Maritimes arrested the various family members in the eastern New Brunswick community.
RCMP arrested Rodney Tingley, 54, along with Roger, 54, Kevin, 30, Michael, 32, and Christopher, 25, early Thursday morning at their Salisbury homes.
Other family members, Sharon Tingley, 49, Gail, 54, and Missy, 32, have been released under specific conditions.
Despite wearing handcuffs as the sheriffs brought them into court on Thursday, members of the Tingley clan were defiant, shouting and cursing at reporters.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Robert Power alleged the accused were connected to a network that was expanding into other areas of the province.
"This particular organized crime group, like other organized crime groups, have tentacles that reach out from their home locale," Power said. "If you will go out into other areas we have evidence that this group has had influences throughout the province of New Brunswick."
It took RCMP from across the province a year to build their case. Power said they raided several locations this week and are now discovering evidence of other crimes.
"We're getting evidence, gathering evidence of, for example, auto theft from different parts of the province," he said.
The Mounties knew for years there was organized crime in the area but nobody would come forward to help the police.
"The people of this area have lived with this organized group in their backyards for numerous years and I know for a fact that they felt intimidated," Power said.
Power said many of these residents are likely quite relieved to see the string of Salisbury arrests.
Even after the arrests, Salisbury residents were also reluctant to talk publicly.
Allan Ayles, a village councillor, was willing to give a voice to what many people in the rural community had long been concerned about.
"It's encouraging to see there've been some results because people haven't been very comfortable with what you perceive to be going on in the community and what people are saying and things that are happening," Ayles said.