Photo: Grande Prairie RCMP

By Shaun Penner

Drugs, weapons, cash seized

Three Grande Prairie residents charged in drug trafficking investigation

Dec 22, 2020 | 12:30 PM

Three people from Grande Prairie have been charged in connection with a drug trafficking investigation, undertaken by the Grande Prairie RCMP’s Crime Reduction Unit.

The investigation began in November of this year, which looked into the sale of illicit drugs in the city.

The investigation led to the execution of a search warrant at a home in the Swan City on December 16, where cocaine, meth, fentanyl, LSD and prescription pills were all seized.

Other items recovered included a loaded .22 calibre rifle, 650 rounds of ammunition and a TV projector that was allegedly stolen from the QE II Hospital.

Now, 50-year-old Leonard Huyghebaert and 47-year-old Carole Gaudet have been charged with the following:

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Cocaine
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Crystal Meth
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Fentanyl
• Possession of a controlled substance – Crack Cocaine
• Careless use, storage and transportation of a firearm
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
• Possession of a firearm without a licence
• Possession of a weapon dangerous to the public
• Possession of property under $5000 obtained by crime (two counts)
• Possession of weapon while prohibited

Huyghebaert faces two additional counts of possession of a weapon while prohibited.

A third individual, a 42-year-old Grande Prairie man, has also been charged with three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Gaudet and Huyghebart are scheduled to appear in Grande Prairie Provincial Court on January 11, while the third individual is slated to be in court on February 10.