UPDATED 8:09 p.m. Wednesday

Drugs and a cache of weapons, including an AK-47, were seized Tuesday during a raid of a home in a small Cape Breton community.

The AK-47, a bulletproof vest, an M-16-style rifle, a kilogram of cocaine, a kilogram of hashish and 18 kilograms of marijuana were among the drugs and weapons seized from a South Side of Boularderie property, RCMP Insp. John Ryan said Wednesday.

Numerous other weapons and drugs were also taken by the Mounties, including ecstasy and steroids. Police also seized $20,000 in cash and a 2003 Jeep Cherokee.

"Individuals possessing an AK-47 assault rifle, a bulletproof vest, a fully loaded handgun and participating in the drug trade pose a threat to the safety of our communities," Ryan said.

"Yesterday's seizure reinforces the clear link between drugs and violence. Yesterday's arrests and seizures speak for themselves."

Jason Blinkhorn, 34, and Wendolynne Avery, 39, both of South Side of Boularderie, are charged with five counts of possession of cocaine, marijuana, hashish (cannabis resin), ecstasy and magic mushrooms for the purpose of trafficking.

They also face production of marijuana charges, two counts of unsafe storage of firearms and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, police said.

Blinkhorn and Avery appeared in Sydney provincial court Wednesday afternoon. Blinkhorn was remanded until Jan. 2 when he'll return for a bail hearing. Avery was also remanded, but will return to court Dec. 27 for a bail hearing.

While the police were investigating alleged drug dealing in the area as part of their operation, Ryan said officers were still taken aback at the large cache of weapons discovered inside the home.

"It's a lot," Ryan said in an interview from the RCMP's North Sydney office.

"We knew the person(s) were allegedly involved in the drug trade. Once we executed the search warrant, the amount of drugs and the weapons were a surprise to us."

That said, Ryan said officers investigating alleged drug dealers are always "prepared" for what they might find during searches.

Area residents thought Blinkhorn and Avery, who are a couple, have lived in a two-storey log home on Hillside Boularderie Road for about five years.

Up to seven RCMP cars arrived at the property around 6 p.m. Tuesday, and several uniformed and plainclothes officers got out, said people who were in the area at the time.

The search started at about 6:30 p.m. and lasted for several hours, police said.

After the officers arrived, some people thought they heard the cops "pummelling" the door of the house, which at the time didn't appear to have a lot of lights on inside.

Blinkhorn and Avery have a Great Dane, which Avery walked most mornings, they said. They believed a neighbour took the dog in after the arrests.

Some thought Blinkhorn sold security systems, but didn't install them. They said Avery works at a component company in North Sydney.

The seizure did, however, surprise people who live in the region. Many said they found the couple to be "normal" and didn't really bother anyone.

"You wouldn't expect anything like that," said one person who did not want to be named.

The Mounties said the investigation is ongoing. They wouldn't say if the raid was the result of a tip.

"We're always investigating illegal drugs and criminal activity in the area," Ryan said.

He said more charges could be laid in the case.

Officers who took part in the raid were from Sydney, Truro and Victoria County. Most were from the RCMP's federal drug section.

Items seized in the raid include:

·  AK47 assault rifle;

·  Bullet proof vest;

·  Loaded, .22 calibre handgun;

 ·  .22 calibre rifle M16 style;

·  Double-barrel shotgun; 

·  Recurve bow and arrows;

·  Bear spray;

·  Ammunition

Drugs (approximately):

·  One kg of cocaine;

· One kg of hashish;

· 40 lbs of marijuana;

·  20, 000 tablets of ecstasy;

·  Large quantity of steroids.

 Cash and car:

·  $20, 000 cash;

·   2003 Jeep Cherokee.

(ehoare@herald.ca)