Money laundering amongst latest charges laid in Project Bustle

The RCMP has concluded Project Bustle, a three-year investigation into interprovincial drug trafficking by an organized crime network.

Staff Sergeant David Emberley provided details of the investigation at a news conference in Gander on Friday.

This investigation is one of the largest the RCMP has seen in terms of money laundering in this province, with a value of over $1 million of illicit income identified.

The investigation began in February, 2021, and led to the execution of search warrants at four homes in the communities of St. John’s, Gander, Appleton and Humber Valley, as well as at a commercial storage unit in Corner Brook in November and December 2022. An additional search was executed at a storage complex in Gander on June 11, 2024.

The following items were seized during the investigation:

• approximately eight kilograms of cocaine

• more than $173,000.00 cash

• 1.7 kilograms of illicit cannabis

• a quantity of contraband tobacco

• drug paraphernalia and items consistent with drug trafficking

• a Range Rover SUV

• an Acura SUV

• a 2013 Yamaha SX 210 twin-engine boat

• a 2013 Shore Lander boat trailer

• a quantity of gold coins

• a quantity of gold bars

• high-end jewellery

• encrypted cellular phones
  

Five people were charged with multiple offences in late 2023 related to the trafficking of cocaine. Two of these individuals, currently residents of Gander, were also charged. 43-year-old Stephen Kelly and 33-year-old Kathleen Pelley face a number of charges.