Seven people have been charged in connection with a major drug and firearms bust in the Clarenville area this time last year.
Operation Barcode was initiated by RCMP NL’s East District General Investigation Section as part of an investigation into a local organized crime network.
The investigation involved the simultaneous execution of search warrants at five Clarenville-area properties in August 2024 that resulted in the seizure of firearms, drugs, contraband tobacco and cash.
A number of RCMP resources, including police officers from Clarenville, Gander and Burin Peninsula detachments, Traffic Services, Police Dog Services and Federal Policing Eastern Region, as well as the RNC, assisted with the operation.
Then this week, police laid charges against seven people under the Criminal Code, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Excise Act and Revenue Administration Act — including five arrested in the immediate aftermath of the searches.
(RCMP file)
Ryan Powell, 41, of Bunyan’s Cove, is charged with:
Flight from police – Criminal Code;
Careless storage of a firearm – Criminal Code – (11 counts);
Possession of property obtained by crime – Criminal Code;
Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Oxycodone – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Cocaine – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
Possession for the purpose of trafficking – MDMA (Ecstasy) – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Hydromorphone – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
Conspiracy to traffic – Cocaine – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
Unlawful distribution of unstamped tobacco products – Excise Act, 2001 & Criminal Code;
Unlawful possession of unstamped tobacco products – Excise Act, 2001 & Criminal Code;
Unlawful possession of contraband – Revenue Administration Act;
Possession of non-duty-paid packaged alcohol – Excise Act, 2001;
Unlawful possession of Cannabis – Hashish – Cannabis Act.
Melanie Powell, 42, also of Bunyan’s Cove, is charged with:
Careless storage of a firearm – Criminal Code – (11 counts);
Possession of property obtained by crime – Criminal Code;
Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Oxycodone – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Cocaine – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
Unlawful possession of unstamped tobacco products – Excise Act, 2001 & Criminal Code;
Unlawful possession of contraband – Revenue Administration Act;
Possession of non-duty-paid packaged alcohol – Excise Act, 2001.
Tony Hobbs, 50, of Lethbridge is charged with:
Trafficking Cocaine – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
Conspiracy to traffic – Cocaine – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
Unlawful distribution of unstamped tobacco products – Excise Act, 2001 & Criminal Code;
Unlawful possession of unstamped tobacco products – Excise Act, 2001 & Criminal Code;
Conspiracy to traffic unstamped tobacco products – Excise Act, 2001 & Criminal Code;
Unlawful possession of contraband – Revenue Administration Act.
Bernard Hobbs, 54, of Bunyan’s Cove, is charged with:
Trafficking Cocaine – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
Conspiracy to traffic unstamped tobacco products – Excise Act, 2001 & Criminal Code.
(RCMP file)
Ashley Clay Holloway, 49, of Bloomfield is charged with:
Careless storage of a firearm – Criminal Code;
Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose – Criminal Code;
Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Oxycodone – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Cocaine – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
Possession for the purpose of trafficking – MDMA (Ecstasy) – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
Unlawful possession of unstamped tobacco products – Excise Act, 2001 & Criminal Code;
Unlawful possession of contraband – Revenue Administration Act;
Possession of non-duty-paid packaged alcohol – Excise Act, 2001;
Unlawful possession of Cannabis – Cannabis Act.
Terrilynn Holloway, 42, also from Bloomfield, is charged with:
Careless storage of a firearm – Criminal Code;
Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose – Criminal Code;
Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Oxycodone – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Cocaine – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
Unlawful possession of unstamped tobacco products – Excise Act, 2001 & Criminal Code;
Unlawful possession of contraband – Revenue Administration Act;
Possession of non-duty-paid packaged alcohol – Excise Act, 2001;
Unlawful possession of Cannabis – Cannabis Act.
And Michael Butt, 42, also of Lethbridge, is charged with:
Unlawful possession of unstamped tobacco products – Excise Act, 2001 & Criminal Code;
Unlawful possession of contraband – Revenue Administration Act;
RCMP East GIS are continuing their investigation with assistance from the Forensic Accounting Management Group (FAMG), and further charges are possible.
Both Ryan Powell and Melanie Powell are expected to make their first court appearances on October 2nd, while Bernard Hobbs and Tony Hobbs are on the docket for September 25th.
Ashley Clay Holloway and Terrilynn Holloway are due in court on October 16th, while Michael Butt’s court date is set for October 9th.
