03/06/2005 - The largest
migratory bird enforcement action ever in
Atlantic Canada lead by Environment Canada’s
Canadian Wildlife Service, with the support
of the Special Investigations Section and
conservation officers from the provincial
Department of Natural Resources, has resulted
in nine individuals from the Port aux Basques
and Rose Blanche areas of Newfoundland and
Labrador facing 45 charges under the Migratory
Bird Convention Act (MBCA) as well as 22 other
charges under other federal and provincial
regulations.
Charged under the MBCA were from Rose Blanche:
George Allan Neil, 57, 19 charges; Lyndon
S. Neil, 28, 9 charges; Randy Chislett, 28,
8 charges; Jamie Parsons, 27, 1 charge; Paul
Williams, 52, 1 charge. From Port Aux Basque,
charged were: Clifford Dingwell, 59, 3 charges;
Dennis Stone, 1 charge; Darrell Neil, 31,
2 charges From Burnt Island John Harris, 44,
received 1 charge.
In addition to the federal charges, conservation
officers with the Department of Natural Resources
have laid an additional 22 charges under the
Provincial Wildlife Act against six male adults
from the Rose Blanche area. The charges include
the illegal possession, hunting, killing,
and trafficking of caribou. Two of the individuals
charged are facing charges under both the
Provincial Wildlife Act and Migratory Bird
Convention Act.
Various charges under the Criminal Code of
Canada are also pending from the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police.
The charges result from a series of arrests
and seizures by enforcement officers from
Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service
and the Department of Natural Resources on
April 27, 2005, along the southwest coast
of Newfoundland and Labrador. In the culmination
of a three-year joint investigation, officers
from Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife
Service led a multi-agency enforcement team
to break up a major organized poaching ring
that was operating in the towns of Port aux
Basque and Rose Blanche, Newfoundland and
Labrador.
The undercover investigation, led by Environment
Canada, was initiated in response to organized
poaching and selling of migratory birds including
ducks and turrs in the area of the southwest
coast of Insular Newfoundland.
Charges were laid following the execution
of 11 search warrants by the 18 officer multi-agency
enforcement team consisting of the Canadian
Wildlife Service, the Newfoundland and Labrador
Department of Natural Resources, Department
of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police.
Search warrants were executed by the officers
on a number of residences and fishing sheds
seizing a large quantity of items including
firearms and ammunition, two boats with motors,
as well as equipment related to the operation
such as bird pickers and processing equipment.
Officers also seized a number of items under
the Provincial Wild Life Act which included
illegal caribou meat, firearms, ammunition
and items related to meat processing. If convicted
on Migratory Bird Regulations, individuals
could face fines of up to $250,000 as well
as possible incarceration. Other charges could
also result in fines and or imprisonment,
including fines up to $5,000 for charges under
the Provincial Wildlife Act. Convictions may
also result in the forfeiture of any items
that were seized.
