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Three people, one of whom remains at large, have been charged with trafficking drugs into the Drumheller institution following an RCMP investigation spanning nearly a year.
Police say they also seized several substances and pieces of equipment, including more than a kilogram of cocaine, a couple of kilograms of methamphetamine, two grams of fentanyl, drones and undisclosed weapons.
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RCMP had found these items at a residence in Eckville while executing a search warrant.
“This was a lengthy and meticulous investigation resulting in the removal of illicit and harmful drugs and weapons from our communities,” Staff Sergeant Robert Harms of Drumheller RCMP said in a statement, adding several agencies, including forensic specialists and investigators at the Sylvan Lake and Blackfalds detachment were involved in the effort.
As a result, Eckville residents Ashley Maki, 39, and Dayton Chassie, 19, have been charged with various offences, including possession of weapons, illicit drugs and break-in instruments such as drones. Maki was released from custody on an undertaking to appear in court on June 17, while Chassie remains at large.
An inmate of the penitentiary, John Andrews, was also charged with conspiracy to commit a crime.
The charges follow another arrest of a Red Deer woman more than three weeks ago for dropping drugs in the prison via drones.
Police searched a home in Calgary and a home in Red Deer related to that investigation in December last year, seizing a drone, cell phones and drug paraphernalia, as well as quantities of methamphetamine, GHB, psilocybin and MDMA.
Transporting drugs into the institution is an ongoing issue. Last March, Mounties arrested three people after catching an alleged attempt to fly illicit substances into the penitentiary with a drone last March.
Anyone with information on the operation is asked to contact Drumheller RCMP or their local police or provide a tip anonymously to Crime Stoppers.
Drumheller is located 130 kilometres northeast of Calgary.
With files from Michael Rodriguez
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