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Photos courtesy of the Grande Prairie RCMP
By Liam Verster
Drug Trafficking

Two arrested in Grande Prairie RCMP drug trafficking investigation

May 26, 2021 | 10:05 AM

Two people from Grande Prairie are facing a litany of charges following a months-long investigation into drug trafficking here in the Swan City.

In March of 2021, the Grande Prairie RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) and Grande Prairie’s Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) opened an investigation into possible drug trafficking in the Grande Prairie area.

The investigation led to the CRU, ALERT and Grande Prairie Municipal officers executing a search warrant at a home in the area of 100 Avenue and 97 Street on May 14. During the search, several items were discovered and seized, including:

  • 18.96 grams of fentanyl
  • 17.73 grams of crack cocaine
  • 25.54 grams of methamphetamine
  • 552 assorted pills, some of which were hand pressed
  • $6,393 in Canadian currency
  • Three prohibited weapons
  • Five imitation firearms
  • Shotgun ammunition
  • A stolen Possession and Acquisition Licence

As a result of the search, two Grande Prairie men, 29-year-old Brandon James Garvie and 26-year-old Jesse Aaron Derksen were arrested.

Garvie has been charged with:

  • Three counts of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking
  • Two counts of Traffic of a Controlled Substance
  • Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5,000
  • Possession of Proceeds of Crime Under $5,000
  • Two counts of Possession of a Prohibited Weapon
  • Two counts of Breach of a Court Order

Derksen has been charged with:

  • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking
  • Possession of a Controlled Substance
  • Possession of Proceeds of Crime Under $5,000
  • Illegal Possession of Government Document
  • Two counts of Possession of a Prohibited Weapon

Following a judicial hearing, both Garvie and Derksen were remanded into custody. Both are to appear in Grande Prairie Provincial Court on May 26, 2021.

Back in September, Derksen pleaded guilty to a drug possession charge and two more of failure to comply in relation to an arrest from 2019. RCMP said at the time methamphetamine, fentanyl, brass knuckles, two knives, and cash were seized after a search of a vehicle.

Garvie already had a court appearance set for June 2 in connection to a November 2020 drug seizure. He was one of two people charged fentanyl, cocaine, crystal meth, cash, a crossbow and ammunition after two downtown apartments were searched.

by Liam Verster