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Blow Valley

CANMORE – Following a yearlong undercover investigation that took approximately $130,000 of cocaine, ecstasy and fentanyl off the street, Canmore RCMP sat down with the Outlook to discuss the drug scene in the valley.
Blow Valley
A model imitates how cocaine could possibly be used in Canmore on Wednesday (May 22).

CANMORE – Following a yearlong undercover investigation that took approximately $130,000 of cocaine, ecstasy and fentanyl off the street, Canmore RCMP sat down with the Outlook to discuss the drug scene in the valley.

“It’s mainly cocaine,” said a local undercover RCMP officer, who’s identity is being withheld to protect their safety.

“There is crack, heroin, meth, ‘shrooms, illicit cannabis, there is some fentanyl but it’s rare, ecstasy/MDMA ... but we are predominantly seeing cocaine and ecstasy – the ‘party drugs.’”

The local RCMP findings are in line with a Global Drug Survey (GDS) released earlier this month, revealing Canada as the second in the world for highest cocaine use, tying with Brazil, Italy, Portugal, Denmark and England.

RCMP pointed to the affluence of the community, as cocaine is known as one of the most expensive commonly used drugs, also reflected in the GDS report. Officers also noted they are seeing local consumers, but there is also an increase in drugs and drug use with the non-locals who visit on weekends.

Officers said they are seeing the drugs in homes, bars and “all over.”

“It’s an organized crime model ... The drugs come in through the port cities, where it gets transported to the big centres and then dealers get set up in town,” the officer explained, noting there are only three major highways to transport from B.C., including the Trans-Canada Highway.

An example of the quantity of drugs that can be transported was seen earlier this year when 148 kilogram of illegal cannabis, 4.5 kg of psilocybin mushrooms, two-kg of shatter, one-kg of edibles and $11,000 was recovered in a single traffic stop near Banff
in February.

“You have no idea what’s in this product [cannabis] where as if you go to an approved distribution store you have some assurance there is quality control – also it’s a good effort to reduce criminal enterprise that plays havoc in our communities anyways,” said RCMP Superintendent Gary Graham at the February press release.

Other officers echoed those comments, particularly with the illicit “party drugs.”

While the GDS stated the purity of cocaine has increased around the globe, with local RCMP confirming they have found higher levels of purity in the past, the officers want to note the levels of purity always vary with no guarantee of what drugs are being cut with.

“We’ve seen [cocaine] cut with baking soda, protein supplement powder ... you never know what you are going to get and it will always be cut with something, and it could be other drugs,” the officer said.

The RCMP officer also said the amount of drugs recovered in the yearlong investigation is considered “a lot” for a community of this size.

“Maybe in a major city this would be considered a smaller amount, but it is a lot for a community of 13,000 people,” they said.

Over the past year, 10 to 11 street-level dealers were arrested as a result of the undercover investigation and Canmore RCMP filed a total of 48 charges against 14 individuals.

“Canmore RCMP detachment recognizes the fact that drug trafficking is a serious issue in the community and will continue to conduct enforcement operations to identify, arrest and charge those in the drug trade. Information provided from the public plays a key role in the investigations,” Canmore RCMP Sgt. Stan Andronyk said.

According to press releases from the Canmore RCMP, the arrests started last July when Cyril Brechmann, 44, from Dead Man’s Flats was charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime and failing to abide by the condition of an undertaking. Cocaine, cash and other drug paraphernalia were seized as part of the investigation.

In November, Stephen Vickers, 32, was charged for trafficking after RCMP pulled him over in a vehicle for a traffic stop. RCMP believed Vickers to be under the influence and subsequently charged him with impaired driving and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

Last December, RCMP also charged Haven Soly, 30, after officers searched a hotel room that was being used by the Canmore resident. Soly was charged with the possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime and two counts of possession of a dangerous weapon.

In the same month, charges were also laid against Fabian Bourghart, 53, for possession of cocaine and fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a controlled substance, possession of the proceeds of crime and break of probation.

Daniel Roy, 48, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) in relation to the incident.

Then in February, Jonathon Steele, 29, from Canmore was charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (cocaine), and Renato Holguin, 29, was charged with one count of trafficking in a controlled substance (cocaine).

The local RCMP worked with the Calgary RCMP Serious and Organized Crime Unit in the undercover operation recovering more than one kilogram of cocaine, in addition to various amounts of ecstasy and fentanyl with a street value of approximately $130,000.

To sum up the yearlong investigation, the officer called it “successful,” but acknowledged the work is far from over.

“The war on drugs is dying a rather slow death,” the GDS report states.

And Canmore RCMP members agree.

“We strongly suspect [trafficking] will continue,” he said.

“But we will continue the battle."

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