Today, RCMP Newfoundland and Labrador provided details of Project Broken, an organized crime investigation by the St. John's RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit into the illicit activities of several individuals originally from the Torbay, NL area. Following an extensive investigation, which began in May 2017, police were able to identify the structure of the organized crime group and its inter-provincial drug trafficking network, which was responsible for the importation of large volumes of cocaine into the province and the laundering of monies associated with its operation. The investigation led to the largest single seizure of illicit cash by police in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador, over $840,000, with other items seized including six kilograms of cocaine, firearms and vehicles. The total value of all items seized, including cash, is approximately $1.4 million. The RCMP NL investigation was supported by the RCMP Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit in Montreal, RCMP Alberta, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, Correctional Services Canada and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada.
In March 2018, search warrants were executed at several residences in St. John's, NL and Montreal, QC and resulted in the following seizures:
- Approximately $843,000 in cash
- Over six kg of cocaine
- Three firearms, including a 9mm handgun
- Five vehicles, including a Hummer and Mercedes Benz
- 16 doses of Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
- 15 telecommunication devices
- Jewellery, clothing and financial documents believed to be the proceeds of crime
- Additional evidence related to drug trafficking
Following the execution of the warrants, police continued the investigation, resulting in charges against the following individuals in St. John's Provincial Court on October 9, 2018:
Jonathan Brandon Mahon, 27 years old, of St. John's, NL
- Conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance, s. 465(1)(c) Criminal Code
- Possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, s. 5(2) Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
- Possession of a restricted firearm (handgun) without being a licenced holder, s. 92(1) CC
- Possession of a firearm (handgun) with serial number removed, s. 108(1)(b) CC
- 2 Counts of careless storage of a firearm (shotgun & rifle), s. 86(1) CC
Nicklaus James Travis, 29 years old, of Torbay, NL
- Conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance, s. 465(1)(c) Criminal Code
- Possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, s. 5(2) Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
- Trafficking in a controlled substance, Cocaine, s. 5(1) CDSA
Thomas Scott Brown, 30 years old, of Torbay, NL
- Conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance, s. 465(1)(c) Criminal Code
- Police charged the following individuals in Quebec Provincial Court on November 27, 2018:
- Charlotte Louise Toomey, 29 years old, of North Bay, ON
- Conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance, s. 465(1)(c) Criminal Code
- Laundering the proceeds of crime, s. 462.31(1)(a) CC
- Possession of the proceeds of crime, s. 355(a) CC
- Possession of a controlled substance, LSD, s. 4(1) CDSA
Michael Douglas Smith, 28 years old, of Drummondville Penitentiary
- Conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance, s. 465(1)(c) Criminal Code
- Laundering the proceeds of crime, s. 462.31(1)(a) CC
- Possession of the proceeds of crime, s. 355(a) CC
Mahon, Brown and Travis have been released on bail.
Toomey and Smith are scheduled to appear in Quebec Provincial Court on December 5, 2018. Smith remains incarcerated as he is currently serving a sentence in relation to Operation Tailwind, a 2016 CSFEU-NL investigation that resulted in the seizure of ten kilograms of cocaine and $276,000 in cash.
RCMP NL Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit targets criminal activity involving national security, organized crime and drug trafficking throughout the entire province of Newfoundland and Labrador.