RCMP seize 26 allegedly stolen vehicles, guns, drugs from Moncton property (original) (raw)
A months-long investigation has led to the discovery of firearms and 26 allegedly stolen vehicles and to dozens of charges against a Moncton man.
Police say it might be one of the most complex investigations the force has done
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Codiac Regional RCMP said they seized 26 allegedly stolen vehicles, along with guns and drugs, from a property in Moncton. (Codiac Regional RCMP)
A months-long investigation has led to the discovery of firearms and 26 allegedly stolen vehicles and to dozens of charges against a Moncton man.
A news release said a division of the Codiac RCMP crime reduction unit began an investigation in January and executed a search warrant in the early hours of June 2 on a property on Ronald Avenue.
The property is in on northwest edge of Moncton near Route 128 and Berry Mills.
During the search warrant process, which police said took three days, police seized the 26 vehicles, 13 firearms and four prohibited weapons, along with money and a kilogram of what is believed to be cocaine.
“A 55-year-old man from Moncton was arrested at the scene and sustained minor injuries during his arrest,” the release said.
The Serious Incident Response Team is reviewing the incident, and the man was treated in the hospital.
The man who was arrested has appeared in court to face a total of 42 charges and was remanded in custody until a bail hearing on June 11, the release said.
The case is one of the largest of its kind ever seen by the Codiac detachment and has required one of the most complex investigations, RCMP Staff Sgt. Nicolas Potvin said in the news release.
“There has been tremendous work on this file over the past few months, with multiple units responding efficiently and working seamlessly together.”
CBC News has tried to reach the Codiac RCMP.
RCMP posted a photo of items seized in the search of the property, including firearms and cash. (Codiac Regional RCMP)
The release said the search of the property involved officers and staff from many agencies, including nine separate RCMP divisions, the provincial Department of Justice and Public Safety, the Moncton Fire Department, the New Brunswick SPCA, N.B. Power and the Department of Environment.
The release did not explain why or how those other groups were involved beyond to “ensure public and officer safety.”
“Équité Association, an expert in vehicle identification, also assisted with the execution of the warrant,” the release said.
CBC News has tried to contact the association to ask about how they were involved with the investigation.
The RCMP included two photos in the news release. The first is an aerial photo of the property, which shows a large home and several buildings surrounded by a large yard full of vehicles.
Another photo shows what police said they seized from the property, including guns, brass knuckles and a box of licence plates.
The release did not say if the stolen vehicles recovered were believed to have been stolen in the Moncton area.
On June 2, Kevin Trites was charged with four counts of possession of property obtained by crime.
One June 5, he was charged with these 38 additional counts:
- 25 counts of possession of property obtained by crime, over $5,000
- four counts of weapons possession contrary to a court order and fail to surrender authorization
- three counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
- Trafficking in property obtained by crime, over $5,000
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon
- Unsafe storage of a firearm
- Possession of a firearm when knowing possession was unauthorized
- Possession of a prohibited weapon when knowing possession was unauthorized.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sam Farley is a Fredericton-based reporter at CBC New Brunswick. Originally from Boston, he is a journalism graduate of the University of King's College in Halifax. He can be reached at sam.farley@cbc.ca