RCMP lays 102 charges in Project Bourbon, the province’s largest-ever seizure of cocaine and contraband tobacco

The RCMP has laid charges against ten individuals as part of Project Bourbon, an organized crime investigation that resulted in what is believed to be Newfoundland and Labrador’s largest seizure of cocaine and contraband tobacco.

The investigation began in February 2023 and focused on organized crime groups trafficking cocaine from British Columbia and contraband tobacco from Ontario into the province.

In September and October 2024, RCMP executed search warrants at six properties in St. John’s and one in Mount Pearl, with the assistance of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. The searches resulted in the seizure of cocaine with an estimated street value of $1.6 million and 9.5 million contraband cigarettes with an estimated street value of $2.6 million.

Additional items seized included quantities of methamphetamine, MDMA, illicit cannabis and hashish, firearms, cash and eight vehicles. The combined value of all items seized was estimated at nearly $5 million.

This week, police announced that charges have been laid against ten people under the Criminal Code, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Cannabis Act, Excise Act 2001 and Revenue Administration Act.

Stephen Pendergast, age 41 of St. John’s, is charged with:

• Assault with a weapon (2 counts)

• Assault causing bodily harm (2 counts)

• Flight from a police officer

• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle

• Mischief over $5,000 (4 counts)

• Taking motor vehicle without consent

• Conspiracy to traffic cocaine

• Conspiracy to possess for the purpose of trafficking cocaine

• Possession of property obtained by crime

• Trafficking cocaine

• Trafficking MDMA

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking MDMA

• Unlawful transportation or distribution of unstamped tobacco products

• Unlawful possession of unstamped tobacco products

• Unlawful possession of contraband tobacco

David Reddy, 51, of St. John’s, is charged with:

• Conspiracy to traffic cocaine

• Conspiracy to possess for the purpose of trafficking cocaine

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine (2 counts)

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking MDMA (2 counts)

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking LSD

• Trafficking cocaine

• Trafficking MDMA

• Possession of property obtained by crime

• Unlawful transportation or distribution of unstamped tobacco products

• Unlawful possession of unstamped tobacco products

• Unlawful possession of contraband

Thirty-three-year-old Brandon Quilty of St. John’s is charged with:

• Conspiracy to traffic cocaine

• Conspiracy to possess for the purpose of trafficking cocaine

• Trafficking cocaine

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine (2 counts)

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking LSD

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking MDMA

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking psilocybin (mushrooms)

• Possession of Cannabis for the purpose of distributing it (5 counts)

• Possession of Cannabis for the purpose of selling it (5 counts)

• Possession of property obtained by crime

Stewart Hillier, 62, of Portugal Cove-St. Phillips is charged with:

• Conspiracy to transport and distribute illicit tobacco

• Unlawful transportation or distribution of unstamped tobacco products

• Unlawful possession of unstamped tobacco products

• Possession of contraband tobacco

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking MDMA

• Possession of Cannabis for the purpose of distributing it

• Possession of Cannabis for the purpose of selling it

Sixty-two-year-old Robert Sullivan of Mount Pearl, is charged with:

• Conspiracy to transport and distribute illicit tobacco

• Unlawful transportation or distribution of unstamped tobacco products (3 counts)

• Unlawful possession of unstamped tobacco products (3 counts)

• Possession of contraband tobacco (3 counts)

Keith Kirkpatrick, age 47, of St. John’s, is charged with:

• Conspiracy to transport and distribute illicit tobacco

• Unlawful transportation or distribution of unstamped tobacco products (3 counts)

• Unlawful possession of unstamped tobacco products (3 counts)

• Possession of contraband tobacco (3 counts)

• Tampering with vehicle identification number

Michael Reardon, 51, of St. John’s, is charged with:

• Conspiracy to transport and distribute illicit tobacco

• Unlawful transportation or distribution of unstamped tobacco products (2 counts)

• Possession of contraband tobacco (2 counts)

• Unlawful possession of unstamped tobacco products (2 counts)

Thirty-year-old Allan Dooley of St. John’s is charged with:

• Conspiracy to transport and distribute illicit tobacco

• Unlawful transportation or distribution of unstamped tobacco products

• Possession of contraband tobacco

• Unlawful possession of unstamped tobacco products

Jeremy Hillier, age 35, of Portugal Cove-St. Phillips is charged with:

• Conspiracy to transport and distribute illicit tobacco

• Unlawful transportation or distribution of unstamped tobacco products

• Possession of contraband tobacco

• Unlawful possession of unstamped tobacco products

Jesse James Fair, age 26, of Hamilton, Ontario, is charged with:

• Conspiracy to transport and distribute illicit tobacco

• Unlawful transportation or distribution of unstamped tobacco products

• Possession of contraband tobacco

• Unlawful possession of unstamped tobacco products

• Possession of property obtained by crime

• Tampering with vehicle identification number

Pendergast, Reddy and Quilty all appeared in court on October 2 and are scheduled to appear next on November 7.

Fair, Stewart and Jeremy Hillier, Kirkpatrick, Sullivan, Reardon and Dooley are scheduled to appear in Provincial Court in St. John’s on October 23.

Multiple items were seized during the investigation in support of drug trafficking, distribution of illicit cannabis and possession of unstamped tobacco, including:

• 20.5 kilograms of cocaine, with an approximate street value of $1.6 million.

• 950 cases of contraband tobacco (9.50 million cigarettes), with an approximate street value of $2.6 million.

• $147,420.00 cash.

• A Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watch, valued at $42,700.00.

• Approximately 10,000 methamphetamine (ICE) pills, approximately 2000 of these contained a combination of methamphetamine and MDMA (Ecstasy).  The approximate street value is $50,000.

• 111 pounds of illicit cannabis, with an approximate street value of $111,000.

• 8 kilograms of illicit hashish, with an approximate street value of $24,000.

• 3,500 vials of cannabis oil, with an approximate street value of $24,500.00.

• Two shotguns.

  
  

Additionally, as part of this investigation, the following vehicles, including a stolen vehicle and a transport truck, were seized:

• A 2021 BMW X4 SUV

• A 2020 GMC Sierra truck

• A 2023 Chevrolet Silverado truck

• A 2014 Chevrolet Silverado truck

• A 12-foot enclosed trailer

• A Toyota Fork Lift

• A 1996 Freightliner transport truck

• 2022 Ford F150 truck – stolen from Ontario