Hells Angels member faces drugs, weapons charges after Cole Harbour bust

A Hells Angels member and two women have been charged with drugs and weapons offences after a search of a Cole Harbour, N.S., home last week, police say.

The charges are directly related to activity by "outlaw motorcycle gangs," a police news release said.

The Nova Scotia Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit whose core mandate is the enforcement of outlaw motorcycle groups and includes officers from the RCMP and Halifax Regional Police carried out a search warrant on Pernix Court last Wednesday.

"As a result, a large amount of drugs, drug and outlaw motorcycle gang-related paraphernalia, firearms and ammunition were seized. One of the firearms was loaded," the police news release said.

'Significant takedown'

Police arrested a 35-year-old man that they identified as a member of the Hells Angels, a 33-year-old woman and a 28-year-old woman. All are from Cole Harbour.

Cpl. Mike Kerr, a member of the special enforcement unit, said the man used to be a member of the Bacchus Motorcycle Club and transitioned into becoming the president of one of the local chapters of the Gate Keepers. He made the jump to the Hells Angels in June 2016, Kerr said.

"It represents a significant takedown. He is a significant player here in the outlaw motorcycle gang world here in Nova Scotia," he said.

Cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis

Each of those arrested face the following charges:

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine).
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (ecstasy).
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (cannabis resin).
• Unsafe storage of a firearm (four counts).
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose (two counts).
• Possession of a loaded restricted firearm (two counts).
• Possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized (two counts).
• Possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition (two counts).

The man was also charged separately with two counts of possession of a firearm while prohibited.

"These charges exemplify the correlation between outlaw motorcycle gangs and criminality," Cpl. Mike Kerr of the combined forces unit said in a statement. "It is this kind of criminal activity that brings harm and increased violence to our communities."

Police said in June they expected a full-fledged chapter of the Hells Angels to be established in the province in a matter of months.

The two women were released to appear in Dartmouth provincial court on Aug. 30. The man was remanded into custody and will also return to court Aug. 30.