Courtesy: Spirit River RCMP

By Shaun Penner

Major Bust

Drugs, firearms, cash and vehicle seized in Spirit River RCMP bust

May 21, 2021 | 4:19 PM

The Spirit River RCMP have charged an Edmonton man with firearms and drug trafficking-related offences following a search of a vehicle in Saddle Hills County and a motel room in Rycroft.

On Tuesday officers from the Spirit River detachment were called to the area of Township Road 775A in Saddle Hills County, where a suspicious vehicle was stuck and unable to get towed.

Officers investigated and the suspect was arrested for unsafe storage of a firearm, RCMP say. The initial search of the vehicle resulted in officers seizing a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, loaded magazines, a sawed-off rifle, and a gun case. One of the firearms was determined to be prohibited.

A warrant to search the vehicle was then obtained, where $21,000 in cash and a quantity of pills were also seized.

Following that search, 30-year-old Shane Edward Craig was charged with eight offences, including possession of a firearm contrary to a firearms prohibition, possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition, possession of firearms with defaced serial numbers, possession for the purpose of trafficking (steroids) and possession of property obtained by crime – proceeds of crime.

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After posting bail with conditions, Craig was released to attend Grande Prairie Provincial Court on June 21.

RCMP then followed up with a warrant for the investigation of a motel room in Rycroft on May 19. That search turned up 8.5 oz of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, 80 tablets of steroids, 13 vials of liquid steroid, approximately $2,000 cash and ammunition.

A 2021 GMC Yukon Denali worth over $100,000 was also seized as alleged proceeds of crime. Charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine), possession for the purpose of trafficking (steroids) and possession of property obtained by crime – proceeds of crime were added to Craig’s list of charges, as he was arrested again.

Craig once again posted cash bail and has been released with conditions to attend Grande Prairie Provincial Court on June 2.

“Spirit River RCMP Detachment is continuously working towards our goal of reducing and disrupting rural crime and identifying those responsible,” says Cst. Hailey Hoffmann of the Spirit River RCMP.

“This seizure will have a large impact in helping to reduce drug and property crime in our area and as a result, lead to a safer community.”