Three residents of central Newfoundland and one resident of Ontario are facing drug trafficking charges as a result of RCMP NL Project Bootstrap. This organized crime investigation has significantly disrupted an inter-provincial drug trafficking network with cocaine flowing directly from Ontario to central Newfoundland, specifically the Hare Bay/Dover area. Cocaine in the amount of 3.5 kilograms, with a street value of a minimum of $1.4 million, was seized in September during a traffic stop of a vehicle in Dover, NL.
The individuals charged are:
- Steven Thomas Armstrong, 46 years old, of Newmarket, Ontario: Conspiracy to Traffic in a controlled substance, s. 465(1)(c) Criminal Code
- Dion Wilson Lee Rodgers, 45 years old, of Templeman, NL: Conspiracy to Traffic in a controlled substance, s. 465(1)(c) Criminal Code
- Edmund Dorman Pickett, 60 years old, of Hare Bay, NL: Conspiracy to Traffic in a controlled substance, s. 465(1)(c) Criminal Code
- Meryl Pickett, 62 years old, of Templeman, NL: Conspiracy to Traffic in a controlled substance, s. 465(1)(c) Criminal Code; Possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, s. 5(2) Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
"The individuals arrested to date as a result of Project Bootstrap were engaged in a highly organized network of criminals trafficking cocaine directly into rural Newfoundland," said Inspector Stefan Thoms, RCMP NL Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit. "The cocaine seized was approximately 85% pure, meaning it would have been cut with other ingredients to result in at least seven kilograms hitting the streets of Dover, Hare Bay and surrounding communities. That's a lot of cocaine for a rural area and it is concerning that we are seeing more and more multi kilogram shipments coming into our province. I thank all of our police officers engaged in this investigation for their excellent work in diverting this amount of cocaine from our streets and disrupting the network of criminals responsible."
The RCMP NL Federal Serious Organized Crime Unit, with assistance from the RCMP NL Emergency Response Team, RCMP NL Police Dog Services, Gander, Glovertown, Carmanville, New-Wes-Valley and Grand Falls-Windsor Detachments and the Ontario RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit, executed search warrants at three residences.
The warrants were served at homes in Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario – one home in Templeman, one home in Dover and one in Keswick, Ontario – in follow up to the seizure of 3.5 kilograms of cocaine during a traffic stop in Dover, NL.
In addition to the 3.5 kilograms of cocaine seized, Project Bootstrap resulted in the following additional seizures:
Seized in Newfoundland and Labrador
- A quantity of prescription pills believed to have been obtained illegally
- A small amount of cocaine
- Over $110,000 in cash, believed to be the proceeds of crime
- One vehicle
- Financial documents
- Numerous electronic devices
Seized in Ontario
- Documents
- Numerous electronic devices
The four charged individuals are set to appear in court on May 11, 2021. Further arrests are anticipated and more information will be released at a later date.
The RCMP NL Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit targets criminal activity involving national security, transnational and serious organized crime and cybercrime throughout the entire province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Many illegal drugs get cut with different substances by drug traffickers, including fentanyl. Plan and prepare for opioid overdose by carrying a Naloxone kit. Please call 811 to find your nearest location for a free naloxone kit or visit https://www.gov.nl.ca/hcs/naloxonekits/.