Police in Fredericton say they have committed the largest drug seizure in the history of the force, including five and a half kilograms of crystalline methamphetamine, which police say is valued at about $ 560,000.
The seizure, involving a large amount of cash and a cache of firearms, is the culmination of about four months of investigative work by officials, the inspector said. Mike Berry, at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
“Seeing results like this shows that when we have adequate resources that include staff, funding and support, then we can make an impact,” Berry said.
“And today it is safe to say that I guarantee that this amount of product will lead to overdose, increased crime and even death.”
Berry said officers carried out search warrants for an apartment in Fredericton, two warehouses and a vehicle on April 20.
Fredericton Police Inspectorate Mike Berry says crystalline methamphetamine has become a bigger problem in Fredericton in recent years. (Ed Hunter / CBC)
Police arrested Caleb Jeffrey Kenneth, 40, and Tashin, Briana Monica Klock, 30, in connection with the seizures, while stopping traffic in the southern part of the city.
They now face a combined 45 charges under the Penal Code and 18 charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Both remain in custody and will return to court on April 25 at 1:30 p.m., police said.
In addition to crystalline methamphetamine and cocaine, the seizures resulted in $ 59,000 in cash, five pistols, two rifles, a rifle, a stun gun, brass knuckles, 6.3 kilograms of cannabis, and hydromorphone, oxycodone, morphine, acid, psilophenidate and psilophenidate.
Police in Fredericton seized five pistols, two rifles and a rifle from four different locations on April 20. (Ed Hunter / CBC)
Speaking to reporters, Berry said police had no connection to illegal motorcycle gangs, but were still investigating.
Berry said that based on information available to police, much of the methamphetamine is either imported from Mexico, the United States or other parts of Canada and is not produced in Fredericton.
“[Crystal meth] is a huge problem for us, ”he said.“ We see it on the streets with crime, with homelessness, with psychosis, with you. That’s a huge problem. “
Berry nodded to the provincial government in his desire to help the New Brunswick police force do more to fight drug crime.
For this year’s budget, the province said it was allocating $ 3.3 million to support expanded law enforcement efforts in New Brunswick.
Police say they seized about $ 59,000 in cash with four search warrants they executed on April 20th. (Ed Hunter / CBC)
“As I said earlier, the province is committed to an integrated anti-drug plan, and we hope that this will bring some additional resources,” Berry said, adding that the force could use additional staff.
Deputy Chief Martin Godet also spoke at the press conference to congratulate Berry and his officers on their work.
“It was a big project and the success speaks for itself,” he said.
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