Roughly 800 grams of meth seized in drug trafficking bust

Over $100,000 worth of drugs in street value seized.

Illicit drugs, weapons, and cash were seized in a drug trafficking investigation that finished this week.

On Aug. 31, Two Hills RCMP and the Eastern Alberta District Rural Crime Reduction Unit (EADRCRU) made an arrest during a traffic stop on Highway 36 near Duvernay, as a result of an ongoing investigation that spans Minburn County, Two Hills County, Saddle Lake First Nation, and St. Paul County.

Police located and seized what is believed to be cocaine and methamphetamine in the vehicle.

A search warrant was executed Tuesday at a house linked to the offender and a significant quantity of suspected methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl was found.

In addition to the illicit drugs, two sawed-off shotguns, other weapons, body armour, and over $10,000 in Canadian currency was seized.

“At street level, the drugs seized in this investigation have a value in excess of $100,000,” said Constable Guillaume Wilson (EADRCRU).

“The successful execution of this operation would not have been possible without the teamwork and collaboration between the Crime Reduction Unit and the detachments in Two Hills, Vegreville and St. Paul,” he said in a press release.

“These joint operations are effective at confronting the offenders committing crimes across several jurisdictions and the seizure of drugs and illegal guns increases public safety in our communities.”

The following items are the controlled substances seized during the investigation:

• Approximately 800 grams of suspected methamphetamine
• Approximately 260 grams of suspected cocaine and crack cocaine
• Approximately 10 grams of suspected fentanyl/heroin

Preston Cardinal (36) of Vegreville was charged with multiple offences, including the following:

• Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (x3)
• Failing to comply with the conditions of a release order (x3)
• Possession of a prohibited weapon contrary to an order
• Careless use of a firearm
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm
• Possession of a loaded prohibited firearm
• Possession of a weapon obtained by crime
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000
• Unlawful possession of body armour

He was remanded into custody after a judicial hearing and is scheduled to appear in Vegreville Provincial Court on Sept. 14.