Illegal hunting at centre of large joint N.B.-U.S. wildlife investigation

Canadian officials are being tight-lipped about charges laid in Grand Falls on Thursday, in connection with a joint investigation by New Brunswick and U.S. wildlife officers, but CBC News has learned the arrests relate to the illegal hunting of bear and moose.

A group of individuals were arrested at the New Brunswick and U.S. border, in Fort Fairfield, Maine, on Jan. 20 and had a number of items seized related to the case.

Six Canadians and two U.S. citizens were charged, but exactly who has been charged, and for what, remains a secret.

Normally, when charges are filed in any court case, the details become a matter of public record and anyone who wants to know can find out who was charged and what they were charged with.

In this case, Judge Paul Duffie invoked a court policy to prevent releasing the names just yet. He worries that releasing the names will tip off people who have already been arrested or detained.

The arrests were the result of a large-scale operation that involved 20 conservation officers in N.B., as well as additional officials in Maine.

Hours after the arrests, a large number of items were seized near Plaster Rock, N.B., said Marc Belliveau, a communications officer with the Department of Natural Resources.

Moose and black bear

Daniel Scott, an American game warden with the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Agency took part in the operation from the American side. He says the operation was related to illegal hunting and harvesting of moose and black bear in New Brunswick.

CBC has learned that the items seized hours after the arrests at the border were animal parts, which were seized at an outfitter in the Plaster Rock area.

Court officials say the court documents could be released as soon as this weekend.