BUFFALO LAKE – Two men are behind bars after Boyle RCMP, with assistance from the Eastern Alberta Rural Crime Reduction Unit and Cold Lake Police Dog Services, executed a search warrant at a Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement home Dec. 11 and found multiple firearms, plus a “significant” quantity of methamphetamine and codeine pills.
“We recovered a couple of rifles, as well as a modified sawed-off shotgun that was previously reported stolen earlier this year out of Boyle,” said Boyle RCMP Const. Andrew Deme Dec. 24. “We cannot say at this time how much drugs were seized as the investigation remains ongoing.”
Thirty-nine-year-old Preston Blyan of Buffalo Lake and Levi Cardinal, 27, of Lac La Biche were each charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking (codeine), unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a prohibited firearm obtained in the commission of an offence, unsafe storage of a firearm and careless use of a firearm. They also face single counts of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of a loaded firearm, possession of a loaded prohibited firearm without a firearms licence and unauthorized possession of a weapon.
Cardinal also faces an addition charge of obstructing a peace officer and was also arrested on outstanding warrants out of Lac La Biche and Edmonton.
“Those warrants were for firearms-related offences, stolen property and flight from police,” he said.
Deme added that the detachment continues to work with community leaders and residents to tackle rural crime.
“This is a significant seizure of illegal drugs and firearms that won’t be distributed into our community,” said Deme, in a release.
Blyan and Cardinal remain in custody and are set to appear in Lac La Biche Provincial Court Jan. 6.
