Nova Scotia RCMP Say the Cumberland County Street Crime Enforcement Unit Charged Matthew Aaron Hunsley, 42, and Nicole Laura Tower, 34, After a Search of an East Leicester Home Seized About 11 Grams of Fentanyl, Cocaine and Pills and Located a Loaded Unsecured Shotgun (November 2, 2026)
Nova Scotia RCMP say officers executed a search warrant on October 29 at a residence in the 4200 block of Highway 204 in East Leicester as part of an ongoing fentanyl trafficking investigation, and seized approximately 11 grams of fentanyl, cocaine, a quantity of pills and drug-related paraphernalia. A loaded, unsecured shotgun and two crossbows were also located inside the residence, the force says. Matthew Aaron Hunsley, 42, and Nicole Laura Tower, 34, both of East Leicester, were arrested and are each charged with four counts of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking and five firearm and weapon offences; Hunsley is also charged with four counts of Failing to Comply with Release Order. The force says both were remanded into custody and are scheduled to appear in Amherst Provincial Court on November 2. The release carries file number 2026-1285713.
Legal status: Charged. The allegations have not been tested in court and both accused are presumed innocent.
The Search on Highway 204
The release describes the matter as an ongoing fentanyl trafficking investigation and says the search warrant was executed on October 29 at a residence in the 4200 block of Highway 204 in East Leicester. The force says both accused were arrested.
Nova Scotia RCMP identify the charging unit as the Cumberland County Street Crime Enforcement Unit, and a note on the release describes the Cumberland County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit as including members of the Cumberland County District RCMP and the Amherst Police Department. The release says Criminal Intelligence Service Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia RCMP Emergency Response Team, the Colchester Community Action Team and the Amherst Police Department assisted.
What Police Say They Seized and Located
Officers seized approximately 11 grams of fentanyl, cocaine, a quantity of pills and drug-related paraphernalia, the force says. A loaded, unsecured shotgun and two crossbows were also located inside the residence.
The Charges
The release sets out a charge list that applies to both accused, and a further set of counts against Hunsley alone.
The Charges, as the Release Words Them
- Both accused: “Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking” (four counts)
- Both accused: “Careless Use of a Firearm”
- Both accused: “Contravention of Firearm Storage Regulations”
- Both accused: “Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose”
- Both accused: “Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm”
- Both accused: “Possession of Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized”
- Matthew Aaron Hunsley only: “Failing to Comply with Release Order” (four counts)
Custody and Court
- Custody: the force says both accused were remanded into custody.
- Court: both are scheduled to appear in Amherst Provincial Court on November 2.
- Release order: Hunsley is charged with four counts of Failing to Comply with Release Order.
Timeline
- October 29, 2026Officers execute a search warrant at a residence in the 4200 block of Highway 204, East Leicester, as part of what the force calls an ongoing fentanyl trafficking investigation. Both accused are arrested.
- November 2, 2026Nova Scotia RCMP publish the release naming Matthew Aaron Hunsley, 42, and Nicole Laura Tower, 34, and setting out the charges and seizures.
- November 2, 2026Both accused are scheduled to appear in Amherst Provincial Court, the release says.
Charged the two accused; includes Cumberland County District RCMP and Amherst Police Department members
Assisted, the release says
Assisted, the release says
Assisted, the release says
Assisted, the release says
Related Files
Sources
- Nova Scotia RCMP, “Police charge two people for trafficking fentanyl and weapons offences,” November 2, 2026, file 2026-1285713 — for the search, the seizures, the accused and the charges — rcmp.ca
Both accused are presumed innocent, and none of the charges has been tested in court. The allegations are those of the Nova Scotia RCMP, as published in its release of November 2, 2026. No gang or criminal organization has been named in connection with this case.
