Five people from this province have been charged with drug trafficking as part of Project Bustle, an investigation of interprovincial drug trafficking by the RCMP NL’s Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit.

Three of the accused were initially arrested on December 22, 2022 in the Corner Brook area.

The investigation, which began in February 2021, resulted in four homes and a commercial storage unit in this province being searched in November and December of 2022.

Search warrants were executed at four homes in St. John’s, Gander, Appleton and the Humber Valley Resort, as well as a commercial storage unit in the Corner Brook area.

The items seized included about 8 kg of cocaine, more than $173,000 in cash, drug paraphernalia and other items consistent with drug trafficking.

Facing charges are 42-year-old Stephen Kelly of Gander, 33-year-old Clifford Mugford of Appleton, 51-year-old Shawn Gibbons of Steady Brook, 33-year-old Kathleen Pelley of Gander and 25-year-old Patrick Hickey of Corner Brook.

All will be back in court early in the new year.

The investigation is continuing, and further charges are expected.