Drugs linked to terrorism?
Police say black hash from Afghanistan; likely ties to organized crime
The hash and marijuana seized in a major drug bust in the east end of St. John’s may have links to terrorism, according to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.
“I can’t say for sure that it is, but I can surmise that it has some kind of connection to that,” RNC Supt. Marlene Jesso told reporters Thursday during a news conference to display the drugs.
As a result of a week-long investigation by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, consisting of members of both the RNC and RCMP, officers executed a search warrant Wednesday at an east end residence, where they discovered 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of hash, 20 pounds of marijuana and $115,000 in cash.
The police value the drugs seized at about $200,000.
Three St. John’s residents were arrested in connection with the bust.
Kenneth Bannister, 59, Stephen John Jeans, 61, and his wife, Sharon Elizabeth Jeans, 59, have been charged with trafficking and possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking.
The drugs and cash, found in vacuum-sealed bags, were neatly laid out on a table for display at RNC headquarters in St. John’s.
While police believe the drugs came to this province from Montreal, Jesso said the hash has a stamp on it, marked black gold No. 7, which indicates it originally came from Afghanistan.
“It is actually a fairly potent hash,” Jesso said.
Jesso said the wrappers over the hashish are from Poland.
“We’re looking at Afghanistan. I mean, that’s where you look at ISIS and terrorism,” said Jesso, who said the money made from the drug business could be going to fund their organizations.
Jesso — who noted hash usually comes from Middle Eastern countries — said there could also be ties to organized crime in this country.
“It usually comes in large quantities in off-loads. It then gets distributed to the ports of Montreal, Halifax and then distributed to the smaller provinces,” she said.
“We don’t know specially gangrelated affiliation in this province, but with any kind of large drug seizure as this, there’s going to be organized crime involved — bikers, mafia.”
It marks the largest seizure of hash made in this province. The next biggest was 11 kilograms in 2013.
The three arrested in the bust appeared in provincial court Thursday.
Bannister was released on $5,000 bail, while Sharon Jeans was released on $10,000 and Stephen Jeans on $40,000.
All three are due back in court Nov. 30.