FIRST-EVER ORGANIZED CRIME CHARGES FILED IN CAPE BRETON

SYDNEY - The first organized crime charges in the history of Cape
Breton were laid following Thursday morning raids across the
municipality.

A Cape Breton Regional Police and RCMP joint force charged 16 people
after several searches and arrests as part of a nine-month
investigation of a group believed to be trafficking cocaine, ecstasy
and marijuana.

"Last year this organized crime group was identified as a provincial
priority for the Nova Scotia Law Enforcement through our Criminal
Intelligence Service Nova Scotia," said Insp. John Ryan, RCMP federal
operations support officer.

"This resulted in the joint forces operation to investigate and
eliminate the capacity of this group."

Operation H-Tactic began in the fall of 2009. Along the way
investigators discovered the group organized shipments of drugs to
Sydney from Montreal and Halifax. They were were then distributed to
local traffickers throughout this region.

"For the first time we are looking to use the provisions in the the
Criminal Code dealing with criminal organizations," said Cape breton
Regional Police Chief Myles Burke.

"We are dealing with individuals organized. It is serious. It is not
average, run of the mill we have been dealing with in the past."

Charges range from conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, marijuana and
ecstasy, to trafficking in a controlled substance, possession for the
purpose of trafficking and participation in a criminal
organization.

Most of the group was based out of the Sydney area, and according to
police, are not associated with outlaw motorcycle gangs or similar
groups. However, they did have contacts in Montreal and Halifax.

As the investigation continues more arrests, including some in
Montreal, are expected to be made.

The individuals arrested were scheduled to appear in provincial court
late Thursday afternoon. An update on their status was not immediately
available.

A total of 50 officers from both policing agencies were involved in
the operation. And Burke said their work will have a "significant
impact" on the region.

"We do know it won't stop the flow of drugs coming into Cape Breton,"
added Ryan. "We believe there are other groups that are actively
involved in drug trafficking. We believe this will be one step in many
to dismantle these groups and to take the drugs off the street."

Police were not ready to reveal the exact amount of drugs seized at
this time.