MAJOR CRACKDOWN

Police Execute Numerous Search Warrants on P.E.I., Including a Store
Linked to Hells Angels in Downtown Charlottetown.

Police raided a Charlottetown store linked to the Hells Angels
motorcycle gang Thursday in a crackdown on drug trafficking in P.E.I.

Boxes of items were confiscated from Route 81, a known merchandising
arm of the Hells Angels, as part of the execution of eight search
warrants Thursday.

RCMP Sgt. Dave Thibeau said police also performed a search and seizure
on four residences in Charlottetown and on another residence along
Rte. 225 in the Hampshire area.

"The searches today have provided evidence for traffic of narcotics on
Prince Edward Island itself," said Thibeau.

He said police seized drugs and money Thursday but he declined to
comment on the quantity. He would not comment either on whether
weapons were seized.

Five people were arrested Thursday but all were released later in the
day.

"A determination will be made on what, if any, charges will be laid at
a later time," said Thibeau.

"There are a number of items in the store that will help us in our
investigation on the proceeds of crime and also the trafficking of
narcotics."

The store, dubbed Route 81 because the numbers eight and one stand for
the corresponding letters H and A of the alphabet, opened in March
2005 in Charlottetown selling everything from belt buckles to
T-shirts. Local police have acknowledged in the past that they are
aware of the connection between Route 81 and Hells Angels.

The Hells Angels had already opened similar outlets in Toronto,
Moncton and Halifax.

The Route 81 store in Charlottetown, which often was closed during
regular retail business hours, had a 'private property' and a 'beware
of dog' sign in the store's windows. A sign with the ominous warning
"There is nothing in here worth losing your life over" also hung in a
window.

Police removed the large Route 81 sign Thursday that hung high above
the main entrance at the front of the store, which was located in a
leased building at the corner of Kent Street and Prince Street.

"What I can tell you is that any assets from this business, we believe
are proceeds of crime," said Thibeau. "This investigation is related
to the trafficking of drugs .

This project did target a major drug trafficker in the province of
P.E.I. and also a network underneath that person."

Thibeau said the RCMP and the Charlottetown Police began a joint
project in January that focused on illegal drug possession and
trafficking and the proceeds obtained as a result of this illegal activity.

Police obtained eight warrants under the Control Drugs and Substance
Act and the Criminal Code. Close to 30 police officers were involved
in the execution of those warrants Thursday.