Drug ring busted; drugs, cash, helicopter seized

OTTAWA – Police have busted an inter-provincial drug ring that was also into loan-sharking, mortgage fraud and money-laundering.

The sophisticated operation distributed cocaine from Montreal in Smiths Falls, Carleton Place, Perth, Lombardy, Stittsville and Ottawa.

At a Thursday morning news conference, OPP and Surete du Quebec showed off drugs and cash seized as part of their bust. They’ve also seized a helicopter used in the drug ring.

Nine people are charged as a result of the bust; three of them are still at-large.

Cocaine in Montreal was being transferred to Mont-Tremblant, where it was cut and then re-packaged to local traffickers in eastern Ontario.

Det. Insp. Rich Patterson says the criminal organization distributing the cocaine was also involved in a host of other dangerous activities.

“It was involved in extortion, money laundering; a whole wide aspect of things beyond just drug trafficking,” Patterson told 1310News. “We believe this was one of the bigger suppliers in the area.”

Police say one of the things that was unique about this ring was its “just-in-time delivery” model — similar to many modern manufacturers and commercial big box retailers.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW

Police seized:

• 2.5 kilograms of cocaine
• One kilogram of hashish
• A half-kilogram of hashish
• One handgun
• Seven motor vehicles
• $409,000.00 in cash

Police have also restrained one residence with respect to proceeds of crime and they will also seize a Robinson R44 helicopter.

David John Mayne Bullen, 45 , of Lombardy is charged with:

• Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence
• Counselling to Commit Extortion
• Instruct a Criminal Organization
• Participate in a Criminal Organization
• Commission of an Offence for a Criminal Organization
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime
• Traffic Cocaine

Michel Cote, 54, of Amherst, QC is charged with:

• Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence
• Instruct a Criminal Organization
• Participate in a Criminal Organization
• Commission of an Offence for a Criminal Organization
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime
• Traffic Cocaine
• Possess Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking

Viorel Gheorghevici, 44, of Ottawa is charged with:

• Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence
• Possession Of Proceeds Of Crime
• Traffic Cocaine – five counts
• Possess Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking – five counts
• Participate in a Criminal Organization
• Commission of an offence for a Criminal Organization

The following men have been charged with one count each of Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence, Possession of Proceeds of Crime, Traffic Cocaine, Possess Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, Participate in a Criminal Organization and Commission of an offence for a Criminal Organization:

• Jordan McGregor, 24, of Ottawa
• Charles Ethier, 47, of Amherst, QC
• Ross McCoy, 45, of Stittsville
• Richard Perron, 43, of L’Assomption, QC
• Michel Pedneault, 50, of Blainville, QC
• Ryan Jones, 44, of Smith Falls

Bullen, Perron and Pednault are still at-large. The rest of the accused made their first appearance at the Elgin Street counrthouse on Wednesday.