Grande Prairie man facing drug charges after traffic stop

A Grande Prairie man is facing charges following a traffic stop near Hinton. 

On January 7, RCMP pulled over a vehicle at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Highway 16 just outside of town limits. After an investigation and the search of the vehicle, 1,040 grams of cocaine was turned up, according to a media release from Hinton RCMP. Drew Michael Benson was subsequently arrested. 

The 34-year-old is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and obstruction. Benson will appear in Jasper Provincial Court on January 11, 2018.

“The interruption of drug trafficking continues to be an objective of the Hinton detachment. We see the effects of addictions on a daily basis, and will continue to be strategic in our response to drug trafficking,” said Hinton Detachment Commander Sgt. Chris Murphy in an RCMP media release.