A B.C. Supreme Court justice has granted a publication ban protecting the identity of undercover officers expected to testify at the upcoming trial of three men accused of drug crimes connected to a biker gang support club.

Justice Lauren Blake has accepted the RCMP’s application for a publication ban on any evidence or information that could identify those officers.

Lawyers representing the three accused — Shawn William Carlisle, 49, Jacob Andrew Cavanagh, 27, and Zale Coty — also appeared in court last week on a first appearance following the case proceeding by direct indictment, meaning there will be no preliminary hearing before a trial begins.

The matter was adjourned at the request of defence counsels

The matter was adjourned at the request of defence counsels for five weeks, to Oct. 3, to review disclosure documents.

According to police, the charges against the three men, who are believed to be linked with the Throttle Lockers gang, was the result of an organized crime investigation by the Kamloops RCMP and the Combined Special Forces Enforcement Unit of B.C. (CFSEU-BC) that began in 2017.

Using three search warrants in November 2019

Using three search warrants in November 2019, police said they found a number of items, including $330,000 in Canadian currency, 174 grams of fentanyl, 704 grams of cocaine, 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, weapons that included a .40-calibre handgun, an Airsoft replica handgun and a pair of brass knuckles, a Throttle Lockers Motorcycle Club vest, Hells Angels support gear, digital scales and cash-counting machines.

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