"Project Bustle" court appearances to start next month, two west coast men are facing drug charges

During the three  year investigation police found 8 kilograms of approximately 90 percent pure cocaine during two traffic stops and at a storage unit in Corner Brook.

Court appearances are set to start next month for two people arrested as part of a Major Federal RCMP interprovincial investigation. “Project Bustle” wrapped up on Friday with a RCMP news conference. Two west coast men are also involved in the 5 person operation. Staff Sargent Dave Emberly lists the 5 people who are now facing numerous charges which 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. 

During the three  year investigation police found 8 kilograms of approximately 90 percent pure cocaine during two traffic stops and at a storage unit in Corner Brook. They also seized a Range Rover, Acura, a boat, 14 gold bars, gold coins and jewelry in Gander and St. John’s. Emberly says high purity cocaine is usually stepped on with similar powders to make more and making this amount of cocaine could be worth upwards of $2.4 million. He says this is one of the largest ever proceeds of crime investigations in this province, with over a million dollars in illicit incomes identified. Emberly says disrupting a group like this is a big win for the province. The cocaine was destined for Corner Brook, Gander and  St. John’s.