Project Barnacle Results in Arrests in NL and Ontario

Project Barnacle, an organized crime investigation led by the RCMP, has significantly disrupted a highly organized group of individuals involved in inter-provincial drug trafficking and money laundering.

Last Thursday, the RCMP Federal Serious Organized Crime Unit, with assistance from the RCMP Emergency Response Team, Holyrood and Harbour Grace Detachments, the RNC and the Ontario RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit, executed search warrants at five residences.

The warrants were served at homes in Newfoundland and Labrador and in Ontario – one home in Torbay, two in St. John’s, one in Etobicoke and one in Mississauga – in follow up to the seizure of a total of four kilograms of cocaine in St. John’s and Etobicoke on January 18.

“With drugs come violence and other criminal activities that are a threat to our communities,” said Inspector Stefan Thoms, Officer in Charge of RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime. “Project Barnacle reflects our priority to combat this threat through the disruption of the organized crime groups responsible for the distribution of illegal drugs into this province. We will continue our work to stop the criminals involved and lay charges wherever appropriate.”