Late last month, the RNC Drug Investigation Unit (DIU) seized a commercial grade pill press which can manufacture 20,000 pills in one hour, as part of Operation Rhino. Police believe it was used to produce illicit drugs which were being advertised as prescription medication.
The pill press is thought to have been purchased illegally off the dark web and is the first of its kind to be seized in the province.
Operation Rhino began in September 2019, in response to concerns related to illicit drug activity, RNC Superintendent Tom Warren said at a news conference in St. John’s Thursday
“Investigators believe there to be an enterprise involved in the mass production of non-pharmaceutical grade pills operating within our community,” Warren said.
After a number of searches were conducted in residences and vehicles on the Avalon, Warren says over $6 million worth of illicit drugs were seized June 30, consisting of cocaine, methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA commonly known as ecstasy or molly), LSD, 700-pounds of cannabis — including shatter, edibles and hash — and mushrooms.
“In addition to the illicit drugs, they also seized $181,930 in cash … two money counters, six firearms with ammunition, body armour, brass knuckles and two vehicles,” Warren said.
“This significant seizure … dismantles an organized crime enterprise here in our community which is national in scale.”
Warren says the investigation and its results sends a message that this kind of activity has no place in the community.
“At this stage in the investigation, three persons have been arrested and released,” Warren said. “The investigation remains active and charges are pending.”
There are more suspects and further arrests are possible, Warren said.
RNC media relations officer, Const. James Cadigan, said the issue of cross-contamination in regard to the illegal drug press is significant.
“There’s so many aspects to the illicit drug trade that it’s alarming,” Cadigan said. “Whether it’s the fact that the substances you could be ingesting by being involved … are cross-contaminated or whether it’s the fact that the source of these drugs are involved in violent activity, as you can see (guns and ammunition), right here in front of you.”
The investigation was in partnership with RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador, RCMP in Nova Scotia, RCMP in British Columbia and Thunder Bay Police Service, Warren said.
“This is on a national scale, we do believe there are numerous provinces involved, we do believe that this is ongoing, and we do believe this to be an organized crime group within our province,” he said.
Warren said the pill press is the most significant part of the seizure, but the guns and ammunition are concerning as well.
“Persons who are involved in the illicit drug trade should expect that our drug investigative officers will be completing searches at the residence, locations, at some time in the future,” Warren said. “As police officers, knowing … the persons in possession of these illegal drugs have access to weapons and firearms is very concerning.”
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Twitter: @AndrewLWaterman
