4 more men charged in Hells Angels-linked cocaine investigation in N.B. and Quebec

Four more people have been charged in connection with an investigation into cocaine trafficking linked to the Hells Angels in New Brunswick and Quebec, say RCMP.

The men, aged 24 to 72, and all from Quebec, were each charged Monday with laundering proceeds of crime and possession of proceeds of crime.

The eldest is also facing charges of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to possess cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

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Eight men and a woman a Bathurstmiddle school teacher werecharged April 25in connection with the investigationby the New BrunswickRCMP'sfederal and serious organized crime unit.

None of the accused are members of the Hells Angels, but police believe they are linked to the outlaw motorcycle gang, said Cpl.JullieRogers-Marsh.

The four latest accused were not arrested before the charges were laid, she said.

One of them, a43-year-old man from Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue,is already incarcerated in Ontario on another matter, and willappear in court "at a later date,"saidRogers-Marsh.

She could not provide any information about where he'sincarcerated or why.

The other three accused weregiven summonses to appear Monday in Bathurst provincial court.

One of them did appear a40-year-old man from Sainte-Genevive. He was not remanded. He is scheduled to return to court on June 11 to enter pleas.

The other two men were represented in court by their lawyers, Rogers-Marsh said.

A 72-year-old man fromSaint-Andr-d'Argenteuil, isscheduled to appear in Bathurst provincial court on May 16 to enter pleas, while a24-year-old man from Montreal isexpected to appear on June11. They are not in custody either.

The RCMP investigation into the trafficking of cocaine on the Acadian Peninsula and in Restigouche, Madawaska and Victoria counties began in November 2016, with assistance from the Edmundston Police Force.

Quebecpolice conducted a simultaneous investigation into outlaw motorcycle groups and the police agencies share information, said Rogers-Marsh.

Police have seized about 5.5 kilograms of cocaine and$900,000in cash during the investigation, dubbed Operation J-Thunder, she said.