Three people charged, drugs and police badge seized during traffic stop in Springhill, N.S.

An RCMP vehicle is pictured. (CTV Atlantic / Melanie Price)

Police charged three people and seized methamphetamine, unstamped tobacco and a wallet containing a police badge and identification that had been reported missing during a proactive traffic stop in Springhill, N.S.

A police officer on patrol observed a truck with different front and back out-of-province licence plates on Wednesday, said a news release. RCMP performed a subsequent traffic stop on Lisgar Street and an officer allegedly saw the unstamped tobacco on the vehicle dash.

Officers searched the black Ford F-150 and found more tobacco and a duffle bag containing crystal methamphetamine, other “items supporting drug trafficking” and the wallet containing the badge and identification, said police. The badge had been reported missing in New Brunswick.

The three occupants of the vehicle, who are all from Amherst, were safely arrested.

Cody Cottenden, 35, Vincent Mallory, 40, and Samuel Moase, 29, are each charged with:

• possession for the purpose of trafficking
• possession of property obtained by crime.
• possession of police articles under the Nova Scotia Police Identity Management Act

Cottenden, Mallory and Moase appeared in court Thursday. Mallory was released on conditions pending a future court appearance. Cottenden and Moase are being held in custody until they appear on Monday.

The investigation is ongoing.

It is an offence to possess police uniforms or articles like badges for anyone who is not a police officer under the Nova Scotia Police Identity Management Act.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page