RCMP hold news conference about "Project Bustle," which ended today and includes 2 west coast men

Staff Sergeant Dave Emberly says those charged include Sean Gibbons, age 52 of Steady Brook, Patrick Hickey, age 25 of Corner Brook, Steven Kelly, age 43 of Gander, Clifford Mugford, age 33 of Appleton and Kathleen Pelley, age 33 of Gander.

A three year investigation into drug trafficking, money laundering and possession of proceeds of crime which included searches in Humber Valley and Corner Brook, has come to an end. Members of the RCMP Federal Policing-eastern Region held a news conference today in Gander. Called “Project Bustle,” this investigation led to multiple charges against several individuals with the most recent charges this week  of money laundering. Staff Sargent Dave Emberly says those charged include Sean Gibbons, age 52 of Steady Brook, Patrick Hickey, age 25 of Corner Brook, Steven Kelly, age 43 of Gander, Clifford Mugford, age 33 of Appleton and Kathleen Pelley, age 33 of Gander. Kelly and Pelley are now facing money laundering charges and will appear in court next month. 

Police found 8 kilograms of approximately 90 percent pure cocaine during two traffic stops and at a storage unit on Corner Brook during the investigation and  they also seized a Range Rover, Acura, a boat, 14 gold bars, gold coins and jewelry.  Emberly says high purity cocaine is usually stepped on to make more and making this amount of cocaine worth upwards of $2.4 million. Saying this is one of the largest ever proceeds of crime investigations in this province, with over a million dollars in illicit incomes identified. He says disrupting a group like this is a big win for the province.