Nova ScotiaA lobster dealer from southwest Nova Scotia arrested last month as part of an RCMP undercover operation has pleaded not guilty to earlier charges of intimidation related to the fishery.Lawyer for Eric Thibault, 66, enters pleas Wednesday on several counts of intimidationListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Eric David Thibault is escorted out of provincial court in Digby, N.S., on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (Jonathan Villeneuve/Radio-Canada)A lobster dealer from southwest Nova Scotia arrested last month as part of an RCMP undercover operation has pleaded not guilty to earlier charges of intimidation related to the fishery.A lawyer for Eric Thibault, 66, entered the pleas on his client’s behalf Wednesday in provincial court in Annapolis Royal, N.S. Thibault remains in custody after being denied bail two weeks ago following his arrest on charges of cocaine trafficking, intimidation, dangerous driving and conspiracy to commit arson.Prior to his arrest, he was facing other intimation charges involving four alleged victims, and on Wednesday, he pleaded not guilty to alleged offences in December 2023, January and February 2024, and November 2024. At least two of the cases allegedly involve lobster sales.Trial dates are expected to be set at another court appearance in January. A separate extortion case from January 2025, and which also involves the lobster industry, has already been set for preliminary inquiry in 2027.Thibault has not yet entered pleas on the new charges he faces from what police said was a 13-month investigation. Among the allegations, Thibault is accused of intimidating an undercover officer and of driving his Lamborghini dangerously.The case is due to return to court in January.Thibault’s son, Zacharie Thibault, also faces charges, including one count of extortion laid as part of the recent investigation. He was also charged last year and earlier this year with threats, extortion and intimidation.Two other men were also charged as part of the recent investigation.MORE TOP STORIESABOUT THE AUTHORRichard Cuthbertson is a journalist with CBC Nova Scotia. He can be reached at richard.cuthbertson@cbc.ca.
Lobster dealer arrested in undercover operation pleads not guilty to earlier charges
