ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — It was a criminal operation that had an unsettling air of violence to it.
A loaded .44-calibre magnum handgun, a .22-calibre rifle, a .38-calibre prohibited handgun, two sawed-off shotguns and two other rifles, one which is sawed off, were among the items seized by police in Operation Ragged.
There were also bullet-proof vests, masks, brass knuckles, a Taser and a machete.
“It’s very sobering,” Supt. Shawn O’Reilly told reporters Monday at RNC headquarters.
“Every time our officers enter into a residents or other place and find a load of firearms, obviously it makes them pause and think about their own personal safety.
“It’s very concerning.”
Officers also seized two kilograms of cocaine, more than 1,000 non-pharmaceutical pills, three high-end vehicles, including a 2018 Infinity Q60 Twin Turbo, about $200,000 in cash, a money counter, an aluminum bat and a GPS vehicle.
In total, the items are worth $750,000.
“It’s not the highest seizure regarding dollar value,” O’Reilly said. “But when you look at what was seized … you have everything here that goes into a criminal operation.”
Police are investigating the origins of the firearms, which O’Reilly said are referred to as “crime guns.” But he said one of them — a .44-calibre magnum handgun — was reported stolen in New Brunswick in 1997.
"It happens from time to time — we find firearms that are stolen years prior in different parts of the country … so that’s not unusual.”
Operation Ragged began in March as a result of incidents of shots being fired at residents in the Northeast Avalon region, although O’Reilly wouldn’t say exactly where. He said there were also a number of incidents involving fire bombs, such as Molotov cocktails, from earlier this year and in 2018.
“Because of that, obviously it’s very concerning to police — not only to the people being targeted, but to people who are innocent, especially when firearms are being discharged at residences,” O’Reilly said. “The people discharging these weapons have no idea the penetration of some of these weapons.”
He said a team consisting of officers from a specialized unit was assembled following the first reported use of weapons.
“We realized we had a problem on our hands and we had to put in a co-ordinated effort,” he said. “We’ve always been successful in the past when we do that.”
On Sept. 18, the team conducted six searches in the St. John’s area, with two men being arrested — Tyler Downey and Jake Long, both 24. The two appeared in provincial court Sept. 23 and are expected to be back before a judge Wednesday.
Downey was no criminal record. He had been charged with 10 counts of assault with a weapon in 2017, but all charges were withdrawn by the Crown.
Long has significant crimes on his record, including a charge of aggravated assault for stabbing a man on George Street in 2014. He was given a three-year jail term in that case. In 2018, he was sentenced to close to a year in prison for a robbery with violence.
“We absolutely know there are more firearms in our jurisdiction than there have been in the past." — Supt. Shawn O’Reilly
Charges are pending against four other people, who were not named. Up to 90 firearm and drug-related charges are expected to be laid.
“I’m not going to stand here and deny we don’t see this (type of crime in our communities),” O’Reilly said. “We absolutely know there are more firearms in our jurisdiction than there have been in the past. But I think this is a significant seizure.
“I think it sends a message to those involved in the drug trade that we have the tools, we have the skills and ability, that people are well trained, well experienced, to do these investigations and you can see the results of that here today.”
Twitter: @TelyRosie
Earlier Story
Two 24-year-old men have been arrested and charged and roughly $750,000 worth of drugs, weapons, money and other items were seized as part of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary's Operation Ragged.
The operation, initiated by the RNC's Criminal Investigation Division "in response to public safety concerns related to the discharging of weapons and arson offences" in the community, conducted a number of searches of residences and vehicle on the Avalon Peninsulas.
Among the items seized were, two kilograms of cocaine, 1,000+ non-pharmaceutical grade pills, three high-end vehicles, seven firearms, approximately $200,000 in Canadian currency, bulletproof vests, mask, brass knuckles, taser, machete, money counters, a vehicle GPS tracker.
Two men, Tyler Downey and Jake Long, are facing weapons-related charges and more under Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA).
The RNC says it arrested other individuals who have since been released pending further investigation.
