The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), and Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources officers have arrested multiple individuals in simultaneous raids in Clare, Nova Scotia, who are linked to a crime ring allegedly connected to illegal lobster fishing and drug smuggling.
The RCMP said it conducted a 13-month investigation named “Project Hammertime,” which investigated and arrested four separate men connected to what it labeled a crime group. The four men were arrested, and RCMP seized large quantities of drugs, cash, firearms, and financial documents. The head of the ring – Eric Thibeault – is also being hit with Fisheries Act charges related to possession and movement of lobster caught outside the commercial fishing season.
“These individuals, through their criminal activities and intimidation tactics, behaved like they owned Clare,” RCMP Superintendent Jason Popik said. “We recognize the disruption they’ve caused to the surrounding community and are pleased to be moving forward with these charges.”
The Chronicle Herald reported Thibeault is a lobster dealer employed by Wedgeport Lobsters Ltd., and he is now facing charges including possession of lobster caught without a legal license and fishing for lobster without a license. RCMP reported it also raided Wedgeport Lobsters, but no charges have been laid against its owner.
RCMP told CBC it is rare for it to charge individuals under the Fisheries Act but directly saw activity “they believed contravened the Fisheries Act while investigating criminal activity.”
According to RCMP reports, the investigation into the crime ring followed dozens of arson incidents in the Clare region, as well as threats and intimidation against people in the community.
Lobster Hub, Inc. Owner Geoffrey Jobert told the Chronicle Herald he was threatened by the group when fishermen began selling lobster to him instead of to processors accused of buying lobsters out of season.
“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,” Jobert told the paper. “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.”
Jobert later found bullet holes in his home, and Eric Thibeault and his son Zacharie were charged a week later for threatening him at his home.
The Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance told the CBC it has been asking for increased enforcement against illegal lobster fishing in the region and the recent criminal ring is not a representation of the wider industry in the province.
