Drug smuggling into Drumheller jail with drone sees two from Lakeland charged

After over a year of investigating, two people from the Lakeland face charges in connection to smuggling drugs into jail in Drumheller.

The situation began in November 2023.

Staff at the Drumheller institution reported to Drumheller RCMP that they found a package containing meth, cell phones, nicotine patches, and fentanyl. 

Drumheller RCMP General Investigations Section (GIS) officers initiated a drug trafficking investigation and located a drone near the institution believed to be used to smuggle the contraband inside. 

That’s where local police got involved, as Cold Lake RCMP and GIS began assisting in the investigation.

The list was extensive, including Federal Policing Northwest Region’s Federal Serious and Organized Crime, Cold Lake GIS, Cold Lake General Duty, Digital Forensic Services, Forensic Identification Section, Firearm Support Services, the National Firearms Tracing Centre, and also from the Edmonton Police Service Robbery Unit. 

Cold Lake search warrant

On April 17, 2024, RCMP officers from the Drumheller GIS, Cold Lake GIS, and Cold Lake Detachment executed a search warrant on a residence on 8 Street in Cold Lake.

As a result of the search warrant, police located supporting evidence of drug trafficking into an institution, finding drones and drone parts. 

Also located was a loaded handgun. 

On the same date, Drumheller GIS executed a search warrant on a vehicle, believed related, that was seized by the Edmonton Police Robbery Unit.  

Additional evidence supporting drug trafficking into an institution was located; including cell phones and evidence of drone use. 

As a result of this investigation, 39-year-old Chance Dunne, a resident of Cold Lake and 34-year-old Daniel Mcdonald, a resident of Edmonton, were jointly charged with:

• Conspiracy to Commit the indictable offence of Trafficking a Controlled Drug; and
• Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine.

In addition, Dunne and 26-year-old Charessa Slade, a resident of Bonnyville, were jointly charged with:

• Possession of a Prohibited Firearm;
• Possession of a firearm without holding a license; and
• Possession of a firearm knowing that the serial number on it had been altered, defaced or removed.

Dunne was then charged with:

• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine; and
• Possession of a Firearm while being prohibited from doing so.

Slade was arrested by Cold Lake GIS on Jan. 21, 2025, and released on an undertaking. She is to appear in the Drumheller Alberta Court of Justice on Mar. 21, 2025.

Dunne is currently in custody on unrelated matters and is to appear in Drumheller Alberta Court of Justice on Mar. 28, 2025.

An arrest warrant was issued for Daniel McDonald whom was arrested by Wetaskiwin RCMP on Jan.30, 2025, and awaits a bail hearing.

If you have any information regarding these matters, please contact Drumheller RCMP at 403.823.7590 or contact your local Police Service.  If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store. 

Previous situations

According to previous information, Dunne was previously charged in July of 2024. This was a break and enter of Staples in Cold Lake in April 2024, that saw $80,000 of product stolen.