INNISFAIL ñ Local Mounties partnering with other detachments and police forces have busted up a significant Calgary to Central Alberta fentanyl connection.
The recent bust resulted in the arrests of a man and a woman, both from Red Deer, who are now facing drug trafficking charges.
The arrests were the result of a targeted drug trafficking investigation that spanned several days and involved shared intelligence and collaboration between task force members from Innisfail and Red Deer RCMP and members of the Calgary Police Service.
"This investigation identified fentanyl trafficking activity from Calgary to Central Alberta, and we can be sure the impact of this deadly drug went far beyond those identified points," said Innisfail RCMP Staff Sgt. Chris Matechuk. "We will keep collaborating and sharing intelligence between the Priority Crimes Task Force and other police detachments to keep putting those involved in the drug trade before the courts."
On Sept. 28, Innisfail RCMP arrested the pair in a traffic stop shortly after 4 p.m. on the QEII Highway at the south Innisfail overpass as the suspects returned to Central Alberta from Calgary. RCMP seized fentanyl and cocaine and items consistent with drug trafficking during the arrest, including a locked safe police believed to contain drugs, said Matechuk.
He said his detachment's General Investigations Section obtained a search warrant and found the safe to contain fentanyl tablets, cocaine and items consistent with drug trafficking. In total, 157 fentanyl tablets, half an ounce of cocaine, a quarter ounce of an unknown drug and items consistent with drug trafficking were seized, said Matechuk.
Derek Fitzgerald Savard, 32, and Jennifer Amanda Lindsay, 31, each face two charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking. Savard was also wanted on outstanding warrants at the time of his arrest.
Savard and Lindsay both made their first court appearances in Red Deer on Oct. 2, and were scheduled to appear in court again the following morning for election and plea.
Priority Crimes Task Force members continue to investigate and RCMP will issue updates if new information becomes available.
The Priority Crimes Task Force, dedicated to increased inter-agency communication, is made up of members from Red Deer RCMP General Investigative Section (GIS), Sylvan Lake, Innisfail, Blackfalds, Ponoka, Rimbey and Rocky Mountain House RCMP detachments and Lacombe Police Service.
Innisfail RCMP Staff Sgt. Chris Matechuk
"This investigation identified fentanyl trafficking activity from Calgary to Central Alberta, and we can be sure the impact of this deadly drug went far beyond those identified points."
