A major drug trafficking operation in Northern BC has resulted in 28 charges against four individuals, following a 14-month investigation led by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia. The investigation began in April 2023, focusing on a suspected drug network in Prince Rupert.
On June 5, 2024, officers executed five search warrants with help from the Prince Rupert RCMP and the Coastal Unit. Investigators seized nine firearms including a Tikka rifle, two loaded shotguns, and a loaded handgun with a prohibited magazine. They also confiscated 1.2 kilograms of methamphetamine, 16 grams of cocaine, approximately $38,000 in cash, and two vehicles believed to be used in the drug operation.
A year later, on June 5, 2025, federal prosecutors laid charges. Keith Fenton, age 38, faces multiple firearm and drug-related offenses. Thirty-four-year-old Richard Gladstone was charged with seven counts of trafficking, while 35-year-old Johnathn Sharkey faces ten counts. Kimberly Smith, 27, was also charged with two counts of trafficking.
All four were arrested and released under strict conditions. Police say the operation is part of a broader effort to crack down on organized crime and keep northern communities safe.
