‘Quite a shock’
Alleged drug trafficker has a high profile in communications
Former colleagues of a woman who was a well-known marketing and communications professional in this province are expressing shock Friday about the news of her arrest in a local drug bust.
“I was certainly surprised to hear about it,” Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corp. (NLC) president Steve Winter said upon learning that longtime former NLC employee Sharon Elizabeth Jeans was reportedly involved in a drug trafficking ring involving hash and marijuana.
“I had no reason to believe she could possibly be involved in anything like that.”
Jeans, 59, was one of three people taken into custody this week as a result of a drug bust in the east end of St. John’s, where members of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit seized 20 kilograms of hash, 11 pounds of marijuana and $115,000 cash. The total value of the seized items was $200,000.
Jeans’ husband, Stephen John Jeans, 61, was also arrested, as was Kenneth Bannister, 59.
The three were released from jail Thursday on cash bonds — Stephen Jeans on $40,000, Sharon Jeans on $10,000 and Bannister on $5,000. All three face charges of trafficking and possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking.
Sharon Jeans is well known in the community, where she held various senior management positions, according to the professional profile website Linked In, including marketing and public relations manager of College of the North Atlantic’s Qatar campus (2012-15), vice-president of Ashtree Ltd. (2001-15), executive director of the Quidi Vidi Rennies River Development Foundation (2006-12) and director of marketing for the Newfoundland Liquor Corp. (1979-2006).
Winter — who heard the news of Sharon Jeans’ arrest at a wine show Thursday night in St. John’s — first met her years ago when he was working as an NLC sales representative.
“She was actually the best person to deal with,” said Winter, who went on years later to become her boss. “I always found her pleasant.”
CNA president Ann Marie Vaughan opted not to comment when contacted Friday by The Telegram.
But a CNA employee at the Qatar campus said the compound is abuzz with the news of Sharon Jeans’ arrest.
“It came as quite a shock to everyone here,” said the man, who asked not to be identified. “Everyone is talking about it here today.”
He described Jeans as someone who was easy to get along with and who seemed genuine. He said she and her husband, who came to visit, “seemed like two very nice people.”
Police told reporters during a news conference Thursday that the drugs came en route from Montreal, but originated in Afghanistan, while their wrappers are from Poland.
Supt. Marlene Jesso said hash usually comes from Middle Eastern countries and she suggested the drugs might have a link to terrorism.
Sharon Jeans, her husband and Bannister are due back in court Nov. 30.