Police find huge cache of allegedly stolen goods at St. John's home

This is James Kelleway, a businessman, former school bus contractor, and police allege, drug dealer. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary came knocking at Kelleway's property on Black Marsh Road back in July. Police say they seized six ounces of cocaine, a kilogram of hash, and prescription pills. But when they came to search a secondary residence on Hamilton Avenue, there was a surprise. Court documents obtained by CBC News show police showed up here with a warrant to search for drugs. What they found instead was the entire building packed from wall to wall, floor to ceiling with suspected stolen property, items ranging from cat food to car parts. Officers undertook the painstaking task of taking inventory, more than 2,300 items, dozens upon dozens of power tools, 46 catalytic converters believed to be stolen from cars, 111 bottles of Dawn dish soap, and much, much more. Kelleway was charged with drug trafficking in September. The investigation into the suspected stolen property is still ongoing. Kelleway has a history when it comes to fencing stolen goods. Police raided his house in 2011 and recovered a haul of construction equipment taken from building sites around the metro region. His two co-conspirators got federal prison sentences. Kelleway got four months house arrest. He made news again in 2017 when the provincial government conducted an inspection blitz on his school buses. They were all taken off the road leaving 22 schools scrambling to find alternatives. Kelleway's sister, the registered owner of a garage, was convicted on six counts of issuing falsified inspection certificates. Charges against Kelleway were dropped. Kelleway declined comment on this story through his lawyer, Robbie Ash. He's due in court on the drug trafficking charges December 14th. Ryan Cook, CBC News, St. John's.