RCMP have provided an update on Project Broken, a major investigation related to organized crime, money laundering and trafficking in cocaine.

Project Broken was an extensive investigation into organized crime and inter-provincial drug trafficking responsible for the importation of large volumes of cocaine into the province. RCMP say it resulted in the largest single seizure of illicit cash ($840,000) by police in the province’s history.

On Thursday, December 10, Jonathan Brandon Mahon of St. John’s was sentenced to 7.5 years in jail after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, possession of the proceeds of crime, money laundering, careless storage of a firearm and possession of an unauthorized firearm.

Mahon was also ordered to pay a fine of just over $195,000.

Meanwhile, others also pleaded guilty to charges related to their role in the distribution of cocaine from Quebec to Newfoundland and Labrador. Michael Douglas Smith pleaded guilty in Quebec Superior Court to charges of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine and possession of the proceeds of crime. He is already serving a seven-year sentence as the result of a separate investigation known as Project Tailwind.

Charlotte Toomey pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to traffic cocaine and possession of the proceeds of crime. She’s scheduled to return to court March 11 for sentencing.