Two charged for fentanyl trafficking, weapons offences in East Leicester, N.S.: RCMP

The RCMP detachment in Pictou, N.S., is pictured on July 25, 2025. (CTV Atlantic / Melanie Price)

Two people have been charged with drug trafficking and weapons offences following a search warrant in East Leicester, N.S., according to RCMP.

Police say they executed the search warrant at a home on the 4200 block of Highway 204 as part of an ongoing fentanyl trafficking investigation on Thursday.

In a news release Monday, police say they seized:

• 11 grams of fentanyl
• cocaine
• a quantity of pills
• drug-related paraphernalia
• a loaded, unsecure shotgun
• two crossbows

Police say 42-year-old Matthew Aaron Hunsley and 34-year-old Nicole Laura Tower, both of East Leicester, were arrested. They have been charged with:

• possession for the purpose of trafficking (four counts)
• careless use of a firearm
• contravention of firearm storage regulations
• possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• unauthorized possession of a firearm
• possession of firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized

Hunsley is also charged with four counts of failing to comply with release order.

Both were remanded into custody and are set to appear in provincial court in Amherst on Monday.

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