Police in Eskasoni, Nova Scotia executed a search warrant on July 13, arresting a 36-year-old man following a complaint that minors had been sold cannabis out of an apartment.
Eskasoni RCMP say they received a complaint on July 11 of two 12-year-old children and one 13-year-old child being sold cannabis out of an apartment on Castle Bay Rd. in Eskasoni. Officers then began investigating the matter.
The Eskasoni Mi’kmaw Nation is a band government of the Mi’kmaq Nation, located in Unama’ki (Cape Breton), Nova Scotia
On July 13, a search warrant was executed at the apartment leading to the arrest of Wilfred Michael Cremo, 36, of Eskasoni. Officers seized dried cannabis, vape pen nicotine canisters, conducted energy weapons (CEW), CEW cartridges, cash, and “a paintball gun that had been modified to fire metal balls”.
Cremo faces an array of charges relating to weapons possession and trafficking, as well as selling cannabis to minors and selling vape products without a permit. He was remanded into custody and appeared in Sydney Provincial Court on July 19.
“This investigation and charges display the hard work being completed by our employees in Eskasoni in an effort to promote public safety within the community, says Insp. Mike Ingles, Operations Officer for Northeast Nova District RCMP in a press release. “Our employees will continue to work in partnership with the Band Council to address the needs of the community”.
The investigation was assisted by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Service Nova Scotia – Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division and the National Weapons Enforcement Support Team, and with cooperation from the local First Nation community where the apartment is located.
“On behalf of the Chief and Council of the Eskasoni First Nation, we will not tolerate activities like this that put our community and our youth at risk,” said Chief Leroy Denny, Chief of Eskasoni First Nation. “We will continue to partner with the Eskasoni RCMP to address these issues when they arise.”
In December 2020, Eskasoni RCMP searched an unlicensed cannabis storefront, seizing a “significant quantity” of cannabis and resulting in one charge being laid. RCMP say they received a report in October of the unlicensed cannabis retailer on Crane Cove Rd. in the Eskasoni First Nation.
