Man arrested with new drug trafficking charges after being wanted for 87 outstanding warrants

An Elk Point man wanted on 87 outstanding warrants was arrested and faces new charges related to drug trafficking.

Vermilion RCMP conducted a traffic stop around 3:30am on Saturday, June 3, after a vehicle didn’t stop at a stop sign.

With the suspect stopped, police said they found that the lone male in the vehicle had an outstanding warrant and a suspended license.

RCMP continued investigating and learned he had provided a false name, was breaching his conditions, had numerous warrants, and there was a large quantity of suspected methamphetamine located within the vehicle, police said. 

Gilbert James Hunter, 47, a resident of Elk Point, was arrested on 87 outstanding warrants. In addition to the new offences he was charged with as follows:

• Possession of suspected methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking
• Possession of suspected fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking
• Obstructing a police officer
• Identity theft
• Fail to comply with a release order (2 counts)
• Fail to obey stop sign

Hunter was held for a judicial interim release hearing. Following the hearing, Hunter was remanded into custody with court set for Tuesday, June 6, at Alberta Court of Justice in Lloydminster.

“This went from a traffic stop for a simple stop sign infraction, to a suspended driver with a warrant, to then becoming a full fledged drug trafficking investigation,” said Sgt. Corey Buckingham, Vermilion RCMP Detachment Commander, in a press release on Monday morning. 

“The officers involved did an excellent job to not only conduct the traffic stop in the first place, but then continue to transition into subsequent investigations leading to this outcome. Another job well done. Further investigation will take place to confirm the suspected drugs and confirm the trafficking offences.”