“This is a very, very significant seizure,” RNC Super. Marlene Jesso told reporters during a news conference today at RNC Headquarters.
The drugs and money were displayed across two tables for reporters to see.
In all, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit seized 10.5 kilograms of cocaine, 20 kilograms of phenacetin (a cutting agent, which is mixed with the cocaine to make a larger quantity), more than 400 Oxycontin pills, a small amount of LSD and $270,000 in cash.
Police also found scales, phones and other drug parapheralia.
“They actually seized the drugs before they had a chance to cut it,” Jesso said, “so if we had waited a day or two, we probably would’ve seen 20 kilos of cocaine.
She said it was good that they were able to get the cocaine and money together.
“Sometimes we can only get one or the other because the exchange has been made... ,” she said, “but we were able to get all of it, so that’s great,” complimenting the combined force, which is an integrated investigative unit consisting of members of both the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary in this province.
Three men, all in their late 20s, were arrested - one at St. John’s International Airport, another during a traffic stop and another at a residence on Lady Anderson Street in the Kenmount Terrance subdivision, where all three were living.
Michael Smith, Blayne Roper and Zackary Reienburg have been charged witih trafficking and possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking.
They appeared in provincial court in St. John’s Tuesday and were remanded for a possible bail hearing on Friday.
The investigation is ongoing and further charges are pending.
Jesso said the investigation began in March and focused on individuals trafficking in high volumes of cocaine in the city.
She said while cocaine has been in the province for quite a few years, police are seeing larger amounts are entering the province in recent years.
“If it had’ve been cut, there would’ve been a large quantity of cocaine on the streets of the city to other communities within the province,” Jesso said.
“It’s a very dangerous drug taken in large quantities. We see so many people in our jurisdiction now (who) are addicted to cocaine, so it’s not helping when we have these people from Ontario bringing in large quantities of drugs.”
“This is a very, very significant seizure,” RNC Super. Marlene Jesso told reporters during a news conference today at RNC Headquarters.
The drugs and money were displayed across two tables for reporters to see.
In all, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit seized 10.5 kilograms of cocaine, 20 kilograms of phenacetin (a cutting agent, which is mixed with the cocaine to make a larger quantity), more than 400 Oxycontin pills, a small amount of LSD and $270,000 in cash.
Police also found scales, phones and other drug parapheralia.
“They actually seized the drugs before they had a chance to cut it,” Jesso said, “so if we had waited a day or two, we probably would’ve seen 20 kilos of cocaine.
She said it was good that they were able to get the cocaine and money together.
“Sometimes we can only get one or the other because the exchange has been made... ,” she said, “but we were able to get all of it, so that’s great,” complimenting the combined force, which is an integrated investigative unit consisting of members of both the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary in this province.
Three men, all in their late 20s, were arrested - one at St. John’s International Airport, another during a traffic stop and another at a residence on Lady Anderson Street in the Kenmount Terrance subdivision, where all three were living.
Michael Smith, Blayne Roper and Zackary Reienburg have been charged witih trafficking and possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking.
They appeared in provincial court in St. John’s Tuesday and were remanded for a possible bail hearing on Friday.
The investigation is ongoing and further charges are pending.
Jesso said the investigation began in March and focused on individuals trafficking in high volumes of cocaine in the city.
She said while cocaine has been in the province for quite a few years, police are seeing larger amounts are entering the province in recent years.
“If it had’ve been cut, there would’ve been a large quantity of cocaine on the streets of the city to other communities within the province,” Jesso said.
“It’s a very dangerous drug taken in large quantities. We see so many people in our jurisdiction now (who) are addicted to cocaine, so it’s not helping when we have these people from Ontario bringing in large quantities of drugs.”
