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Traffickers have bail hearing
A bail hearing was conducted for three of the individuals arrested on July 10 after a drug search warrant was executed in Cranbrook, resulting in one of the accused fleeing and being chased by RCMP.
One person was remanded in custody and will appear in court on Monday, July 20. A second person was released on a $20,000 surety (bail) for court on Monday July 20 and a third individual from the Lower Mainland was released on the condition that he not be in Cranbrook unless it’s for court, scheduled for Aug 17. A fourth individual was released by police on a Promise to Appear for court on Aug 17.
All four were charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance; three were charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking and one with Flight from Police.
Seized from their vehicle and hotel room was more than $4,500 cash, more than 200 grams of crack cocaine, 14 grams of MDMA and 76 Fentanyl pills. In addition police seized a VW Jetta as offence related property.
“The quantities and types of drugs seized are very concerning, these drugs are highly addictive and dangerous. In a number of cases we have found persons are buying drugs that are not what they are purported to be. This in itself is a huge concern,” said Kimberley RCMP Cpl. Chris Newel.
Three of the individuals were not from Cranbrook; having moved here believing there was a void in the market.
“Our Cranbrook/Kimberley Crime Reduction Unit quickly initiated an investigation and was able to successfully make an arrest and seize dangerous drugs before they hit the streets of our community,” said Cpl. Newel.
Four people were arrested following the execution of a drug search warrant and brief pursuit in Cranbrook the evening of July 9 and early morning of July 10.
Cranbrook/Kimberley Crime Reduction Unit initiated a drug trafficking investigation involving a group of individuals, a couple whom recently relocated to Cranbrook. As a result of this investigation a search warrant was obtained under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
During the early morning hours of July 10, the search warrant was executed on a room at a Cranbrook hotel where a quantity of drugs were located and seized and two individuals were taken into police custody.
Investigators were aware of a third individual involved and were waiting his arrival. When this individual arrived he sped off in his vehicle after spotting the police nearby. Police vehicles followed the suspect through an industrial area of Cranbrook and after a brief time the vehicle stopped near Jim Smith Lake at which time two more individuals were taken into custody. Another quantity of cocaine was located and seized at that time.
“This is yet another great example of a coordinated effort between the Cranbrook /Kimberley Crime Reduction Unit and the Cranbrook RCMP Detachment,” stated Cranbrook RCMP S/Sgt. Dubnyk. “Police believe this group of individuals recently relocated to Cranbrook for the sole purpose of trafficking in illicit drugs so this is a clear message they are not welcome in Cranbrook if that is their only reason for being here” Dubnyk added.
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