Organized crime-ring disrupted, 29 people charged after raids

RCMP say an organized crime ring in New Brunswick has been disrupted,after police agencies conducted numerous simultaneous searches across the southern part of the province on Wednesday.

Drugs, firearms and cash were seizedduring theraids athomes and businesses in eight New Brunswick communities, RCMP said.

Twenty-nine people are facing charges as a result of the ongoing investigation into organized crime and drugs, dubbed Operation J-Tornado,that now spans three provinces.

Among the accusedare "the alleged principle (sic) leaders of three criminal groups operating in New Brunswick," Cpl. Chantal Farrahstated in a release.

There were also arrests in Laval, Que., and Halifax, N.S.

RCMP will hold a news conference in Saint John at the federal policing officeon Thursday at 11:30 a.m. to provide more information.

Representatives from the Saint John Police Force, Kennebecasis Regional Police Force and Canada Border Services Agency, who assisted in the searches,will also be present.

Many of the people arrested in New Brunswick appearedin Saint John provincial court before Judge Anne Jeffrieson Wednesday to face a variety of drug-related charges, includingpossession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, and conspiring to possess and traffic.The types of drugs involved included cocaine, heroin and marijuana.

"This will have a significant impact on the safeties of our communities. Because as you know, where there's drug trafficking, there's also a riskof higher offences of violence and other negative things in our communities,"Farrah told CBC News.

Some people were also charged withpossession of the proceeds of crime.

Federal Crown prosecutor Nicole Poirierobjected to the release of many of the accused. They remain remanded in custody pending bail hearings, which will be held between Thursday and Monday.

Some asked if they could be dealt with sooner, citing everything from being business owners with employees to oversee, to having pets at home that need to be fed. But the judge said the delay could not be avoided, given the number of people charged.

The searches were in:

• Saint John
• Scoudouc
• Oromocto
• Moncton
• Seeleys Cove
• Springfield
• Grand Manan
• Willow Grove

Officers raided a homein Scoudoucon Chemin Parker at about 6 a.m. The door is scorched from where neighbour Jeff Hubley says explosives were used to force it open.

"There was two big bangs, sounded like gun shots. Looked outside the window and there was a big SUV in my driveway and there was a bunch of undercover copsall along the side of the road, and dogs going through my yard," said Hubley.

We thought it was gunshots, but apparently they attached some explosives to the doors, blew them off.- Jeff Hubley, Scoudoucresident

"We thought it was gunshots, but apparently they attached some explosives to the doors, blew them off," he said.

As far as he knows, no one was inside at the time, but police hauled away a four-wheeler and "a bunch of boxes of stuff."

"It's unexpected up here. It's pretty quiet, really. From what I know of the neighbour, he's a good guy," Hubley said.

The man had lived there for about six months and was a "really good neighbour," he said.

"If I needed anything, I just gave a holler," said Hubley. The neighbour also took care of Hubley's lawn while he was out of town for work, he said.

In Saint John, several officers were at Buddies Pawn Shop on Main Street in the city's north end around 10:30 a.m., CBC's Matthew Bingley reported.

Some of the officers were in uniform, while others were in civilian clothes with their police badges hanging around their necks.

They all appeared to bewearing bullet-proof vests and some of them were wearing blue latex gloves.

An employee at the convenience store across the street said police cars had been on the scene since at least 7 a.m. when she started her shift.

The activity attracted the attention of curious passersby, including a man on a motorcycle who was asking police questions.

Officers also raided tworesidential homes in the city's north end, as well asBig Shots Sports Bar at WestmorlandPlace in the heart of the city's east side commercial district, Bingley said.

A bar patron was turned away,and a meter reader at the home on Scenic Drive was asked to leave the property.

An area resident said there is normally a steady stream of traffic up and down the long driveway to the Scenic Drivehome at all hours of the day.

A mailman was allowed to deliver mail to the other raided home on AnglinDrive,as a landscaping crew working across the street watched the comings and goings.

Officers were observed emerging from each location carrying brown boxes.