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Thirteen people – 12 men and one woman – face charges following the conclusion of an undercover operation which targeted drug trafficking in the downtown bar scene over the last five months.
Early in 2015, Halifax Regional Police responded to several occurrences where patrons in the downtown bar scene were believed to have had adverse reactions to MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine), commonly referred to as ‘molly;’ molly can be MDMA on its own or MDMA mixed with other toxic substances. In response, HRP issued a public warning and investigators in the Drug Unit of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division subsequently launched an operation in May 2015 to target people believed to be trafficking illicit drugs in local night clubs, including bar staff and patrons.
“The goal of the operation was two-fold – to suppress the sale of controlled substances in bars in the downtown core and protect the public. Investigators, with the assistance of members of the RCMP Federal Serious & Organized Crime Unit, accomplished both goals during the course of the operation, putting the people responsible before the courts, seizing illicit drugs and enhancing the safety of our downtown bar scene,” said Staff Sergeant Darrell Gaudet, officer-in-charge of the Drug Unit.
As a result of the operation, investigators executed three search warrants at three separate residences – one in the 1200 block of Queen Street on May 20, another in the 100 block of Braemar Drive in Dartmouth on May 21 and a final search in the 1600 block of Barrington Street on September 23 – and seized quantities of cocaine, MDMA, marijuana and psilocybin, cash and drug paraphernalia. The operation concluded earlier this week and resulted in 13 people being charged for a total of 30 offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, including charges of trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of illicit substances.
“Our downtown is very vibrant and we pride ourselves on working hard to ensure it’s safe for everyone to enjoy. That’s why we launched an operation to address the trafficking of illicit drugs in the downtown bar scene as such activity can cause serious adverse reactions, including death. If anyone witnesses illicit drug activity in the downtown bar scene or elsewhere, they are asked to contact police at 902-490-5016 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-TIPS (8477),” said S/Sgt. Gaudet.
Following is a list of the accused, their age and place of residence as well as the charge(s) they face:
- Jonathan George Laing, 26, Halifax – five counts of trafficking in cocaine, one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking in cocaine and one count of possession of the purpose of trafficking in MDMA
- Peter George Schmid*, 20, Dartmouth – four counts of trafficking in cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of possession of marijuana
- James Dean Veniot, 32, Dartmouth – two counts of trafficking in cocaine
- Chula Kanishkas Sahabandu*, 26, Halifax – two counts of trafficking in cocaine
- Trevor Stephen Fitt, 20, New Glasgow – two counts of trafficking in MDMA
- Jason Andrew Saldanha, 23, Halifax – one count of trafficking in cocaine and one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking in cocaine
- Mila Fraser, 22, Dartmouth – one count of trafficking in cocaine
- Erfan Keyghodabi*, 22, Halifax – one count of trafficking in cocaine
- Bryson Murphy, 21, Halifax – one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking in cocaine and one count of possession of psilocybin
- Mustafa Shahwan, 24, Halifax – one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking in cocaine
- Stephane Harm Goosens, 23, Halifax – one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking in cocaine
- Patrick Brown, 24, Halifax – one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking in cocaine
- Matthew Lawrence Hadfield-Power, 19, Dartmouth – one count of possession of cocaine and one count of possession of marijuana
*At the time of this operation, three of the 13 people charged were employees in downtown establishments where it’s alleged they were trafficking. While police don’t typically release someone’s profession, we do so when their line of work is directly connected to the charges they face.