Police seize weapons, guns and over 20 kg of cocaine after series of searches in St. John's

Police in Newfoundland and Labrador have arrested eight people and seized close to $5 million in drugs, vehicles, weapons and cash through what the RCMP is calling Project Bourbon.

The RCMP says it's the largest seziure of cocaine and contraband tobacco in the province's history.

RCMP Insp. David Emberley told reporters on Monday that 20.5 kilograms of cocaine was seized, which has a street value of approximately $1.6 million.

Project Bourbon began in February 2023, Emberley said, and focused on cocaine being trafficked into the province from British Columbia along with contraband tobacco from Ontario.

One person was arrested at a commercial property in the Goulds neighbourhood of St. John's on Sept. 19, and search warrants were also executed at three separate St. John's properties that same day.

Two more searches happened in St. John's on Oct. 9 and in Mount Pearl on Oct. 10. A transport truck was also seized on Oct. 31.

Among the seized items are:

• 20.5 kilograms of cocaine.
• 9.5 million contraband cigarettes, valued at $2.6 million.
• About 10,000 methamphetamine pills, valued at $50,000, including about 2,000 pills that are a combination of methamphetamine and MDMA.
• 111 pounds of illicit cannabis and 3,500 vials of cannabis oil, with a combined value of $135,500.
• Eight kilograms of hashish, worth $24,000.
• A $42,700 Rolex watch.
• Two shotguns.
• A 2021 BMW SUV.
• A 2020 GMC truck.
• Two Chevrolet Silverado trucks.
• A 12-foot enclosed trailer.
• A Toyota fork lift.
• A 1996 Freightliner transport truck.
• A 2022 Ford F-150 truck, which was stolen from Ontario.

Emberley told reporters the cigarettes alone represent a loss to retailers of between $5 million and $8.6 million, if they were purchased legally.

The amount of cigarettes also represents one shipping load, he said. Police estimated traffickers were shipping a load of this size every month.

The investigation, which includes both the RCMP and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, is continuing with an update expected in the new year.

No charges have been laid yet, Emberley said, and the eight people have since been released. He said charges are incoming.

Details of the bust come days after the seizure of what RCMP in British Columbia called Canada's "largest, most sophisticated drug superlab" in Falkland, B.C.

Emberley couldn't speak to if the incidents are connected as the matter is still under investigation.

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