Police say Cape Breton just got a whole lot safer after a series of dramatic, co-ordinated raids resulted in dozens of arrests Friday.
Chief Myles Burke of the Cape Breton Regional Police Service held an afternoon press conference and announced 53 arrests for drug-related offences, marking the conclusion of a five-month investigation called Operation Nightrider, believed to be one of the largest street-level drug operations ever conducted in Cape Breton.
“This operation has led to a number of arrests and search warrants in the Glace Bay area, New Waterford, Sydney, North Sydney, Sydney Mines, Membertou and other communities outside the jurisdiction of the CBRM,” Burke said.
“The accused in the investigation include 45 males and eight females, ranging in age from 17 to 58 years of age.”
Burke said 80 officers, assisted by staff from a number of agencies throughout the province, were involved in the operation.
Drugs seized as a result of the operation include marijuana, hash oil, cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy and prescription medication including oxycodone, Percocet, Dilaudid, morphine, hydromorphine and Valium.
Burke estimated $100,000 in drugs were purchased at street level.
