Arrest warrant issued for Quebec man due in Bathurst court in Hells Angels-linked case

An arrest warrant has been issued for a Quebec man who failed to appear in Bathurst provincial court Monday on charges related to an investigation into cocaine trafficking in northern New Brunswick that RCMPsay is linked to the Hells Angels.

AndrewBoucher ofSainte-Genevive was scheduled to enter pleas on charges of laundering proceeds of crime and possession of the proceeds of crime.

He is one of 14 people arrested in the past couple ofmonths as part of OperationJ-Thunder, which started in November 2016.

None of the accused are members of the Hells Angels outlaw motorcycle gang, but police believe theyare linked to outlaw motorcycle gangs in New Brunswick and Quebec, RCMPhavesaid.

Two other men from Quebec and a New Brunswick man, who also had scheduled court appearances in BathurstonMonday, are due back on July 16 at 9:30 a.m. to enter pleas.

• 14th person arrested in Hells Angels-linked drug investigation
• 4 more men charged in Hells Angels-linked cocaine investigation in N.B. and Quebec

SimonDupuis, 43, ofSainte-Anne-de-Bellevue is charged with laundering proceeds of crime and possession of the proceeds of crime.

Raymond Bertrand, 72, ofSaint-Andr-d'Argenteuilis charged with conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to possess cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, laundering proceeds of crime, and possession of the proceeds of crime.

NormandGodbout, 59, of Grand Falls is charged with conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to possess cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Meanwhile, a preliminary inquiry for CdrikCazzetta-Parent, 24, of Montreal has been scheduled for Jan. 8 at 9:30 a.m. Four days have been set aside.

Cazzetta-Parent is chargedwith laundering proceeds of crime and possession of the proceeds of crime.

The RCMP investigation, conducted with assistance from the Edmundston Police Force, targeted the sale of cocaine on the Acadian Peninsula and inRestigouche,Madawaskaand Victoria counties.

During the course of the investigation, police seized about $900,000in cash and about5.5kilograms of cocaine.

Quebecpolice conducted asimultaneousinvestigationinto outlaw motorcycle groups and the police agenciesshared information.