Department undertakes major undercover operation

As part of an extensive undercover operation conservation officers from the Western Region of the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods with assistance from the RCMP have conducted searches in the community of Port aux Choix, at Raft Pond (near Hawke�s Bay) and in two remote cabins located at Lake Michael and Goodyear�s Lake on the Long Range Mountains. The investigation was conducted by the department�s Legislation and Compliance Section and Western Regional Staff.

These searches have resulted in the seizure of one 180G Cessna aircraft, one 2000 Chev. pick-up truck, two boats, one rifle, one gill net along with a quantity of moose meat, fish and some hunting equipment.

Two agencies, the RCMP and Transport Canada, will also be conducting their own separate investigations of this matter. It is anticipated conservation officers will be laying charges against a number of individuals from the Port aux Choix area in the coming weeks for breaches of the Wildlife Act and the Newfoundland fishing regulations.

In the meantime, the investigation is continuing.

For further information contact: Jim Maloney, regional compliance manager, (709) 637-2918

Media contact: Craig Renouf, (709) 637-2923, fax: (709) 637-2403.

2000 11 28 11:30 a.m.