Three Bracebridge men face charges related to trafficking large amounts of cocaine into St. John’s, Newfoundland.

On May 23, after a two-month-long investigation, the RCMP and Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said they arrested the men after seizing $1 million worth of drugs, including 23 pounds of cocaine, 44 pounds of phenacetin (a banned painkiller used to dilute cocaine) and 400 oxycodone pills.

Police also confiscated $270,000 in cash, as well as phones, scales and other drug paraphernalia, according to a press release issued shortly after the seizures.

One suspect was arrested at St. John’s International Airport, another was arrested from a traffic stop and a third was arrested at a residence in St. John’s after a warrant was executed, according to a statement from Supt. Marlene Jesso, the officer in charge of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, which led the investigation and consists of RCMP and Newfoundland police.

"We see so many people in our jurisdiction now (who) are addicted to cocaine, so it’s not helping when we have these people from Ontario bringing in large quantities of drugs.” - Supt. Marlene Jesso

Michael Smith, 26, Zachary Reisenburg, 26, and Blayne Roper, 27, all of Bracebridge, were each charged with possessing property obtained by crime, two counts of trafficking in controlled drug or substance, and two counts of possessing a controlled drug or substance for trafficking.

Smith was also charged with possessing a controlled drug or substance and two counts of failure to comply with condition of undertaking or recognizance.

Since Roper, Smith and Reisenburg’s arrest in Newfoundland, they’ve appeared in court several times, the latest being on July 4. Roper was released on bail and Smith and Reisenburg remain in custody.

Editor's note: This story was last edited on July 7.