RCMP drug-trafficking investigation, Project Bustle, results in multiple charges and seizures of cocaine and cash

Five people have been charged with drug trafficking offences as part of Project Bustle, an investigation of interprovincial drug trafficking by RCMP Newfoundland’s Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit, police said on Dec. 13.

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

The investigation, which began in February 2021, focused on an interprovincial drug trafficking operation of cocaine. As part of this investigation, four homes and a commercial storage unit in this province were searched between November to December, 2022.

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

Multiple items were seized including approximately eight kilograms of cocaine, more than $173,000 cash, drug paraphernalia, and other items consistent with drug trafficking.

Stephen Kelly, 42, who resided in St. John’s at the time of his arrest and now resides in Gander, is charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine, four counts of trafficking cocaine, two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and possession of proceeds of crime.

Kathleen Pelley, 33, of Gander, is charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine, trafficking cocaine, and possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine.

Clifford Mugford, 33, of Appleton, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine.

Sean Gibbons, 51, of Steady Brook, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine

Patrick Hickey, 25, of Corner Brook, is charged with trafficking cocaine.

Four of the accused, Kelly, Pelley, Hickey and Gibbons, are set to appear in Corner Brook Provincial Court on Jan. 23, 2024. Kelly and Mugford are set to appear in St. John’s Provincial Court on Jan. 30, 2024.

The investigation is continuing with further charges expected. An update is anticipated in the New Year.

RCMP NL extends a special thanks to its external investigative partners including Forensic Accounting Management Group, FINTRAC, Canada Revenue Agency, and Seized Property Management Directorate for assistance provided in this investigation.

The RCMP NL Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit targets criminal activity involving national security, transnational and serious organized crime and cyber crime throughout the entire province of Newfoundland and Labrador.