The RCMP has laid additional charges in connection to an alleged drug and human trafficking operation in the province.
The mounties first announced the details of Project Badminton last September.
They say the 30-month long investigation significantly disrupted a criminal organization responsible for drug and human trafficking.
(From left, RCMP Insp. Stefan Thoms, Const. Colleen Noble, and Angela Crockwell, executive director of Thrive, which runs Blue Door, a program supporting victims of sexual exploitation.)
Four men, all from the metro area, are facing new charges, all of which are related to drug trafficking, in relation to the alleged offences.
36-year-old Dominic Delisle and 25 year-old Erik Mello are both facing new charges of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and possession for the purpose of tracking cocaine. That’s in addition to multiple human trafficking and firearms charges for Delisle, and firearms charges for Mello.
Dominic Delisle File Photo
As well, 40-year-old Richard Noftall is facing multiple charges related to the trafficking of cocaine and fentanyl. 29-year-old Travis Thorne is facing similar charges, as well as charges related to trafficking hydromorphone, unauthorized distribution of cannabis, and possession of the proceeds of crime.
All four men will appear in court on August 24.
Full List of Charges
Thirty-six-year-old Dominic Delisle of St. John’s
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine
Delisle is also facing multiple criminal human trafficking and firearms charges, which were laid in 2022 as a result of Project Badminton.
Twenty-five-year-old Erik Mello of Torbay
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine
Mello is also facing multiple firearms charges, which were laid in 2022 as a result of Project Badminton.
Forty-year-old Richard Noftall of Portugal Cove-St. Phillips
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine
• Trafficking in Cocaine – two counts
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Fentanyl
Twenty-nine-year-old Travis Thorne of St. John’s
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Fentanyl
• Trafficking in Cocaine – two counts
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine – two counts
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Fentanyl
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Hydromorphone
• Possession of Cannabis for Unauthorized Distribution
• Possession of the Proceeds of Crime – Canadian Currency
Project Badminton resulted in the seizure of:
• In excess of five kilograms of cocaine
• 3000 counterfeit Oxycodone pills laced with Fentanyl and THC 320 Supeudol (Oxycodone) pills
• 60 Dilaudid pills
• $26,000 cash
• Sixteen pounds of cannabis
• A loaded semi-automatic restricted handgun with an extended magazine.
