Drug bust catches 9 in 3 provinces

Nine people from three different provinces have been charged as part of a 20-month-long drug investigation by RCMP.

The investigation, code-named LURID, was launched in November 2012, and involved police forces in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island.

Six of those arrested are from P.E.I.

Police say they seized about 20 kilograms of marijuana, seven grams of ketamine and more than 2,000 methamphetamine pills.

RCMP value the seized drugs at more than $350,000. They also seized $70,000 in cash and drug paraphernalia.

The drug network was centred in Charlottetown, say RCMP, and primarily associated with 22-year-old Ryan Roscoe. Roscoe faces a number of charges, including possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking and six counts of trafficking in marijuana. Alicia Young, 22 of Charlottetown, is also charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Jordyn Hooley, 20 of Souris, P.E.I. and Mike DeWolfe, 36 of Cornwall, P.E.I. face charges in connection with conspiracy to traffic marijuana and methamphetamine. Joel London, 24 of Montague, P.E.I. was charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. Four other people were charged with conspiracy to traffic marijuana.

• James Savard, 31 of Charlottetown.
• Louis Sheitoyan, 30 of Montreal.
• Jacques Bernatchez-Elliott, 29 of Montreal.
• Malek Sahouli, 22 of Fredericton.

Those charged will be in P.E.I. provincial court on July 21 to enter pleas.