Arrests made in drug case

An international drug trafficking investigation has resulted in charges against three Cape Breton men.

Donald Gordon Mugford, 35, of Baddeck, Andrew Francis Frank, 59, of West Arichat, and Wayne Bennie Mury, 43, of Arichat, are three of six people arrested as a result of Operation Halfpenny.

Nova Scotia RCMP say the 18month drug investigation that began in Cape Breton has uncovered a conspiracy to import more than one tonne of cocaine into Canada from Colombia.

A total of four arrests were made without incident across Nova Scotia on Thursday. Two other men, from the Ontario municipalities of Oakville and Hawkesbury, were also arrested.

It’s alleged that 25 firearms, ammunition, three prohibited weapons, a stolen vehicle, a significant quantity of hashish, cash and tactical equipment were seized during raids Thursday in Arichat and West Arichat in Richmond County, Baddeck, Victoria County, and Hubley, near Halifax.

Mugford is charged with trafficking in cocaine, possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, conspiracy to import cocaine, conspiracy to traffic cocaine and conspiracy to possess cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. He appeared in Halifax provincial court Friday and was released from custody on conditions. He will be back in court on March 20.

Frank and Mury have been remanded into custody and also appeared in a Halifax court on Friday.

Frank is charged with two counts of trafficking in cocaine, two counts of possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, conspiracy to import cocaine, conspiracy to traffic cocaine and conspiracy to possess cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Mury is charged with trafficking in cocaine and possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Also facing a variety of cocaine-related charges are Douglas Eric Andrew Fredericks, 54, of Hubley, Jacek Mucha, 47, of Oakville, Ont., and Raymond J.Y. Lachapelle, 53, of Hawkesbury, Ont.

Staff Sgt. Mark McKinley said police disrupted “an entire drug trafficking ring,’’ with the cocaine destined for Nova Scotia and across Canada.

RCMP in Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan assisted with the investigation.