How it happened: RCMP accuse ‘crime group’ of dealing in cocaine, lobster, arson and threats in southwest Nova Scotia

RCMP alleging illegal lobster trade is highly organized following undercover operationPublished Nov 25, 20255 minute readAn undercover RCMP operation is alleging links between cocaine trafficking and the illegal lobster trade in southwestern Nova Scotia. Photo by FILEArticle contentA series of raids and arrests in southwest Nova Scotia last week have linked organized crime to one of the province’s largest lobster buyers and the illegal lobster fishery on St. Mary’s Bay.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentIn court documents and interviews, law enforcement alleges that Eric Thibeault, 66, an employee of Wedgeport Lobsters Ltd, headed a crime ring that terrorized communities around Clare over recent years through arsons and shootings.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentAmong other things, the ring is accused of profiting off the movement of lobster caught outside the commercial season on St. Mary’s Bay.Article content“We’ve been dealing with several cases of violent behaviour from this crime group for the last two years especially,” said Jeff LeBlanc, a sergeant with the Meteghan RCMP, on Monday.Article content“There was a few cases of intimidation, extortion, many cases of threats. It evolved into violent crimes – arsons and shootings into houses and whatnot.”Article contentThe chargesArticle contentAn extensive investigation that involved an undercover operation culminated last Wednesday in simultaneous raids by dozens of RCMP, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and provincial Department of Natural Resources officers at Wedgeport Lobsters and personal properties owned by Thibeault.Article contentHe faces multiple charges of possession and trafficking cocaine and Fisheries Act charges for possession of lobster caught without a legal licence, along with fishing it himself, arson and intimidation.Article contentArticle contentHis son, Zacharie Thibeault, 33, was charged with intimidation and extortion.Article contentArticle contentDean Joseph Stuart, 55, of Church Point, has been charged with arson and cocaine trafficking offences.Article contentSixty-year-old Raymond Arthur Scott of Meteghan was charged with arson and conspiracy.Article contentEric Thibeault’s lawyer, Phil Star of Yarmouth, told The Chronicle Herald on Tuesday that his client denies being the head of an organized crime family as well as all the charges against him.Article contentOperation Hammertime follows arsonsArticle contentLeblanc said the RCMP began Operation Hammertime 13 months ago, bringing in a special investigative team who worked with officers from DFO and DNR.Article content“There are risks,” said Leblanc of the undercover component of the operation.Article content“The risk was worth it due to the fact this crime group was acting violently in the community. It was a concern of ours someone would be physically injured or killed by their doing.”Article contentOver the past four years, the Clare region has seen dozens of arsons, including the burning of an RCMP cruiser at a gas station in Meteghan and multiple shots fired into homes.Article contentOne of the victims was Geoffrey Jobert, owner of Lobster Hub Inc. in Meteghan. He told The Chronicle Herald last year that he was threatened by a local organized crime family when fishermen started switching to him from processors accused of buying First Nations lobster caught outside the commercial season.Article content“I said, ‘No, we’re not going be intimidated.’ Then, that fisherman started having trouble of his own (with threats) to burn down his property,” said Jobert.Article contentArticle content“Other fishermen started selling to us because they didn’t want to sell to a business connected with the illegal fishery. We were sent videos of my home at night. I tried to not pay attention to it.”Article contentThen the day after the commercial season opened last November, Jobert found bullet holes through multiple walls in his home and a round lodged in a rocking chair.Article contentNo-one has been charged with firing the shot, but Eric and Zacharie Thibeault were charged a week later for allegedly showing up at Jobert’s home and threatening him. Those charges included uttering threats, two counts of intimidation, extortion, criminal harassment and failure to comply with a probation order in relation to separate investigations.Article contentUndercover Ferrari rideArticle contentAccording to court records, a female undercover RCMP officer befriended Eric Thibeault as part of Operation Hammertime. While details remain scarce, the documents mention Thibeault attempting to threaten the officer.Article contentArticle contentThey include driving over 200 kilometres per hour in his Ferrari despite her repeated requests that he stop while she was a passenger and going to her residence in an attempt to intimidate her.Article contentAccording to Leblanc, at no time was Thibeault aware the woman was an undercover officer.Article contentLeblanc said that moving lobster caught in St. Mary’s Bay was only one part of the criminal organization’s business.Article contentAsked if the group’s alleged drug trade was tied to their lobster dealings, he replied, “Could be. Maybe paid (for lobster) by money maybe by drugs.”Article contentNone of the allegations have been proven in court.Article contentIllegal lobster tradeArticle contentEric Thibeault was an employee of Wedgeport Lobsters, which was also raided last week. The company is owned by prominent South Shore processor Reginald Leblanc. There have been no charges laid against him.Article contentThe Chronicle Herald asked Reginald Leblanc whether lobster caught on St. Mary’s Bay by First Nations members claiming a moderate livelihood right to fish outside the commercial season was being mixed with legally caught lobster in any of his plants.Article content“No,” he responded.Article contentAsked if it was being mixed in at other plants in southwest Nova Scotia, he responded, “Well, it’s going somewhere, your guess is as good as mine. . . . I don’t think it’s southwest Nova.”Article content Lobster fishing boats leave the Lower East Pubnico wharf loaded with fishing gear on Nov. 24 for the start of the (legal) six-month commercial lobster season in southwestern Nova Scotia. KATHY JOHNSONArticle contentDFO spokeswoman Debra Buott-Matheson confirmed that its officers, along with the RCMP and provincial DNR officers, conducted an “inspection” of Wedgeport Lobsters last week, along with another plant owned by Leblanc in Delaps Cove a few weeks earlier.Article content“Fishery officers routinely conduct inspections as part of their work to measure compliance with the Fisheries Act and its associated regulations,” reads a written statement from Buott-Matheson.Article content“During inspections, it is common practice for fishery officers to copy business records so that they may be compared to information previously reported by the business, and via other sources. Inspections are not searches or investigations; however, an inspection could result in an investigation if irregularities are discovered.”Article contentArticle contentOperation Hammertime has also been supported by the Canada Revenue Agency, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Forensic Accounting Management Group, the Canada Revenue Agency and Criminal Intelligence Service Nova Scotia.Article contentAccording to the RCMP’s Leblanc, the investigation is continuing and those with information are encouraged to contact the Meteghan detachment.Article contentEric Thibeault was remanded in custody last week and has a bail hearing set for Thursday in Digby provincial court. Star said his client intends to seek release.Article contentArticle content