“Although it’s not a very visible crime for the general public to witness or see, drug trafficking can have a very devastating affect on the community."
Bonnyville RCMP S/Sgt. Sarah Parke described Bonnyville's role in Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team's (ALERT) Project Embrace, which initiated in town through information gathered by the local General Investigation Section (GIS), resulting in the arrest of multiple street-level dealers in separate investigations.
“Project Embrace began in October 2018, when the Bonnyville GIS developed significant criminal intelligence into drug trafficking that was taking place in Bonnyville,” detailed Parke.
The information collected led the investigation to grow to Edmonton and Vancouver, involving "upwards of a dozen partnering agencies."
“Had it not been for the joint effort of all of these agencies, Project Embrace would not have been the success that it was,” added Parke in a meeting with media on Thursday at RCMP "K" Division in Edmonton.
As a result of Project Embrace, Charlie Houle, 24, Brent Coell, 18, Rayden Hill, 22, Michael Pownall, 36, Britney Coulombe, 27, Wayne Friesen, 27, Tyanna John, 21, and Dustin Gellerman, 27, all of Bonnyville, were arrested.
Over $1-million worth of drugs and cash were seized after six homes, four Edmonton residences and two Vancouver apartments, were search.
In total, investigators found 6.5-grams of cocaine, two-kilograms of methamphetamine, 18-kg of a cocaine buffing agent, $342,982 in cash, and a 2007 Volvo with a hidden mechanized compartment.
In addition to the suspects arrested in Bonnyville, other agencies have charged 29-year-old Matthew Castle, 50-year-old Terri Lynn Castle, and 18-year-old Christian Castle-Wasson, all of Edmonton. David Davinder Lally, 40, and Jacob Fralin, 32, both from Vancouver, and Ryan Rautiainen, 26 of Lloydminster, were also arrested.
“The Bonnyville detachment and GIS take every opportunity to collaborate with partner agencies in a team effort to tackle organized crime and disrupt drug trafficking,” expressed Parke.
She added, “Drugs are often the peripheral, underlying cause for other offences taking place in the community like break and enter, vehicle thefts, and other property-related crimes. Individuals will often steal anything and everything they can get their hands on in an effort to support their addiction."
If issues such as drug trafficking aren't prioritized, Parke said, they will harm communities and may expand outside of the area they originated from.
“It doesn’t matter if we serve to protect small towns like Bonnyville, or big cities like Edmonton and Vancouver, if there’s money to be made, organized crime will be there and it’s a price we all have to pay, and is something we are always cognizant of,” Parke stated.
