Historic drug bust in Cold Lake sees over 1KG of cocaine & fentanyl seized, three charged

RCMP are calling this one of the largest drug busts in the Cold Lake area ever. 

Three people from Cold Lake and Ardmore have been arrested in a large-scale drug bust that saw the seizure of over a kilogram of cocaine and fentanyl each, along with several guns, and tens of thousands of dollars.

This investigation from Cold Lake GIS was called Project K-Nanosecond, and involved ALERT squads from Lloydminster and Edmonton, in “one of the largest drug seizures ever made in Cold Lake and surrounding area.” 

A total of six search warrants were executed on Tuesday, Feb. 25 in various locations, including three residences in Cold Lake, as well as a commercial property, a residence in Ardmore, and a dwelling in Edmonton.

As a result of this investigation, the following has been seized:

• Approximately one kilogram of suspected cocaine;
• Approximately one kilogram of suspected fentanyl;
• Approximately five kilograms of a suspected cocaine cutting agent, benzocaine;
• Approximately $68,000 in Canadian currency;
• 23 firearms, including four restricted handguns;
• A Range Rover SUV and a Ford F350 Super Duty truck.

RCMP say the street value of these drugs is roughly $250,000.

Police resources in the search warrants included Lloydminster ALERT, Edmonton ALERT, the RCMP Eastern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit, the RCMP Community Response Team in Edmonton, Bonnyville GIS, Police Dog Services, and members of the Cold Lake RCMP, and Cold Lake GIS. 

Charges

As a result of this investigation, three individuals have been charged:

Francois Poulet, 31, a resident of Cold Lake, has been charged with the following offences:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking;
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime;
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose;
• Possession of a prohibited weapon.

Cameron Pike, 62, a resident of Cold Lake, has been charged with the following offences:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking;
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime;
• Careless Use of a Firearm;
• Possession of a Prohibited Device.

Nicholas Deboeck, 33, a resident of Ardmore, has been charged with the following offences with Trafficking in a Controlled Substance.

Poulet, Pike, and Deboeck were held for a Judicial Interim Hearing and released with conditions to appear at the Alberta Court of Justice in Cold Lake on Mar. 19, 2025.