Nova Scotia RCMP have laid 130 charges against 24 people in a large drug bust spanning Cape Breton and Antigonish County.

The charges and the details of the bust, known as Operation HAKON, were annouced at a news conference in Sydney on Thursday.

"These individuals were beyond your street-level drug dealers, they were part of criminal groups that trafficked large quantities of drugs in and out of our community," Insp. John Ryan, an RCMP federal support officer, said in a statement.

"They had access to guns, bulletproof vests, drugs and cash and they used whatever means necessary to get their job done."

RCMP conducted several residential and vehicle searches during the 13-month investigation and seized drugs, weapons, vehicles, and cash:

  • 25 kg of marijuana.
  • 1.5 kg of cocaine.
  • 1 kg of hash oil.
  • 1 kg of hash.
  • More than 100 marijuana plants.
  • An AK47 assault rifle.
  • A 22-calibre handgun.
  • Five .22 calibre rifles.
  • Five 12 gauge shot guns.
  • A 20 gauge shot gun.
  • Three 410 gauge shot guns.
  • A .30-30 calibre rifle.
  • Recurve bow and arrows.
  • Bear spray.
  • Ammunition.
  • Bulletproof vest.

Seven vehicles and approximately $55,000 in cash were also seized, RCMP announced Thursday.

The 24 accused range in age from 20 to 62. They are all Nova Scotian, with the exception of one person from Quebec.

They are facing a variety of charges including conspiracy to traffic, trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking in cocaine, marijuana, hashish, magic mushrooms and ecstasy, production of marijuana, possession of prohibited weapons, possession of a restricted firearm, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of a prohibited device, possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, unsafe storage of firearms, resisting arrest and conspiracy to commit assault causing bodily harm.

"These criminals thought they could fly under the radar because they were living and conducting criminal activity in smaller communities," said Ryan.

"The RCMP kept good on our promise to criminals; to find you, arrest you, seize your weapons and drugs and bring you before the courts."