Two people were arrested and are facing numerous charges following an RCMP drug enforcement operation in St. John’s that went down last night with the help of the RNC.

Police cordoned-off an area of Cashin Avenue Thursday evening and arrested 43-year-old Christa Hollett and 38-year-old Rodrigues Ryan.

The operation was part of an ongoing RCMP investigation. A search of a home, breached with the use of the RCMP’s Tactical Armoured Vehicle and the use of tear gas, resulted in the seizure of drugs and weapons.

Seized from the property were quantities of suspected fentanyl, cocaine, oxycodone, morphine, methadone, methylphenidate and clonazepam. A rifle, ammunition, pepper spray and a quantity of prohibited weapons were also seized.

Both Hollett and Ryan, who are prohibited from the possession of firearms and weapons, appeared in court today. Ryan was on parole, with an outstanding arrest warrant.

Fifty-four charges have been laid against Hollett and 76 charges have been laid against Ryan, all of which fall within a long list of criminal charges including:

• Possession of oxycodone for the purpose of trafficking.
• Possession of morphine for the purpose of trafficking.
• Possession of methadone for the purpose of trafficking.
• Possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
• Possession of methylphenidate for the purpose of trafficking.
• Possession of clonazepam for the purpose of trafficking cocaine.
• Unsafe storage of a firearm
• Storage of prohibited weapon in breach of regulations.
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm.
• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon.
• Possession of a firearm knowing possession is unauthorized.
• Possession of a prohibited device knowing possession is unauthorized.
• Possession of a firearm obtained by crime.
• Possession of a firearm with the serial number removed.
• Possession of a firearm contrary to a court order.

The investigation continues and further charges are anticipated.