Fifteen people are facing charges after police in Nova Scotia busted up an international drug smuggling ring.
In total, 45 charges have been laid – most dealing with trying to import cocaine into Canada
Police say the investigation was wide-spread – and undercover eight conspiracies to import cocaine from Antigua, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana and the US.
Vehicles, firearms, cash and over 200 kilograms of cocaine were seized.
An employee with Department of National Defence and Canadian Coast Guard is among those charged – both from Nova Scotia.
Multiple police agencies and various departments were involved in the investigation.
The following individuals have been charged:
Steven Tello, 35, Toronto, ON
Conspiracy to Import Cocaine x 4
Trafficking Cocaine x 2
Scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice Old City Hall, April 23rd, 2015.
Mathew Thomas Fleming, 35, Maple, ON
Conspiracy to Import Cocaine x 4
Trafficking Cocaine
Trafficking in Firearms
Scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice Old City Hall, April 23rd, 2015.
Gary Christopher Meister, 60, Bedford, NS
Conspiracy to Import Cocaine x 2
Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine x 2
Scheduled to appear at Palais de justice de Montréal on April 21st, 2015.
Michael Costa, 30, Vaughan, ON
Conspiracy to Import Cocaine
Trafficking Cocaine
Remanded into custody. Toronto court date to be determined.
Philipos Kollaros, 35, Montreal, QC
Conspiracy to Import Cocaine x2
Conspiracy to Traffic x2
Scheduled to appear at Palais de justice Montréal April 22nd, 2015.
Bayon David Figueoa Escobar, 36, Montreal, QC
Trafficking Cocaine
Scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice Old City Hall, April 23rd, 2015.
Stephen Alexander Fleming, 33, Halifax, NS
Conspiracy to Import Cocaine
Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine
Scheduled to appear at Palais de justice Montréal April 22nd, 2015.
Delbert William Meister, 69, Halifax, NS
Darlene Margaret Richards, 54, Greenwood, NS
Each charged with:
Conspiracy to Import Cocaine x2
Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine x2
Both remanded into custody. Montreal court date to be determined.
Bassam Kassel Elouta, 35, Richmond Hill, ON
Conspiracy to Import Cocaine
Arrest warrant issued.
Ryan James Wedding, 33, Montreal, QC
Conspiracy to Import Cocaine x2
Conspiracy to Traffic x2
Trafficking in Cocaine
Arrest warrant issued.
Normand Joseph Pomerleau, 64, Montreal, QC
Conspiracy to Import Cocaine
Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine
Arrest warrant issued.
Michael Charles Dibben, 60, Montreal, QC
Conspiracy to Import Cocaine x2
Arrest warrant issued.
Edouard Semmikian, 61, Montreal, QC
Alyas Rahimi, 28, Toronto, ON
Each charged with:
Conspiracy to Import Cocaine
Arrest warrants issued.
