A four month investigation into drug trafficking in the Bow Valley has led to 16 individuals being arrested and charged with criminal offences.
Canmore and Banff RCMP, along with the Calgary RCMP General Investigation Section and Kananskis RCMP, executed five search warrants on residences in Canmore and Banff in October and seized cocaine, marijuana, psyilocybin and LSD, along with the proceeds of crime and other evidence of drug trafficking.
Canmore RCMP Sgt. Ryan Currie said the total amount of prohibited substances found in the major bust were not large, however, it was enough to establish trafficking charges for each accused.
“It was a project that had been ongoing for about four months,” he said. “It was a lot of work to see who was trafficking in drugs in the valley.
“I think the sheer number of people identified in drug trafficking means it was quite a successful investigation and hopefully that has an impact on trafficking in the valley.”
From Canmore, Brandon Blanchard, 29, was charged with two counts of trafficking and two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking. Olivier Gouin, 30, was charged with one count of trafficking and possession. Michael Senyck, 31, was charged with one count of trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a prohibited weapon – brass knuckles – and possession of the proceeds of crime. Nathan Taylor Simpson, 19, was charged with two counts of trafficking and Ian Paul Cecil Steward was charged with two counts of trafficking and two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Canmore resident Caleb Moseler, 34, was charged with two counts of trafficking and currently has an outstanding warrant for his arrest.
From Banff, Martin Bergeron, 46, was charged with two counts of trafficking and one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking. Patrick Cote, or Theberge, 21, was charged with trafficking. Samuel Gagnon-Desbois, 18, was charged with one count of trafficking, one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime.
Gareth Everett, 30, was charged with trafficking, possession and possession of the proceeds of crime. Sam Fournier, 18, and Jerome Lachance, 20, were each charged with one count of trafficking. Joseph Okon, 23, was charged with three counts of trafficking and one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking. Stefan Wyslouzil, 25, was charged with three counts of trafficking.
Also charged, with an outstanding warrant for his arrest, was Quebec resident Justin Bolduc, 18, with two counts of trafficking and 46-year-old Banff resident Mark Gyles was charged with possession.
All accused are set to appear in Canmore Provincial Court over the next month.
