A major weekend drug bust involving cocaine and ecstacy in the Vernon area has ties to the Prairies and United States. Saskatchewan RCMP issued a release Monday stating that
members of the Regina Integrated Drug Unit launched, in April, a
multi-agency controlled drug investigation in partnership with the
United States Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration. “The investigation centred on the importation of large
quantities of controlled drugs that were allegedly being important into
Canada, and exported into the U.S. via unmanned border crossings in
rural southern Saskatchewan,” said Saskatchewan RCMP media relations
officer Sgt. Paul Dawson. The investigation alleges that cocaine was destined for
B.C. while mass quantities of ecstacy were headed for the Pacific
Northwest in the U.S. From each of those destinations, the illegal drugs
would be distributed to communities across North America. The Regina Integrated Drug Unit conducted simultaneous
searches at homes on Silver Star and in Coldstream on Saturday,
specifically in the 9800 Block of Pinnacle Road on Silver Star, and on
Palfrey Drive West in Coldstream. An adult man was arrested at each home. In the searches, investigators seized more than $3,500 in cash, documents and six unregistered firearms. A 2003 Ford Winstar was stopped, searched and seized in Salmon Arm, resulting in a third person being arrested. Over the weekend, the drug unit seized 30 kilograms of
cocaine, estimated to be worth $1.35 million on the street, and 100,000
tablets of ecstasy, worth an estimated $1 million, in the searches. “This is a very significant seizure and there’s more
work to be done,” said Dawson. “Had these controlled drugs reached their
intended destination, there would be considerable harm to communities
and individuals.” Brock Ernest Palfrey, 25, of Silver Star, is charged
with conspiracy to import cocaine and conspiracy to export ecstacy. He
is also charged with four counts of breaching an undertaking. William Bruce Larsen, 50, of Coldstream, charged with conspiracy to import cocaine and conspiracy to export ecstacy. Ronald Charles Learning, 28, from Golden, is charged with conspiracy to import cocaine and conspiracy to export ecstacy. Palfrey and Larsen were scheduled to appear in Regina
Provincial Court Monday, while Learning was to make an appearance in
Vernon Provincial Court, also on Monday. Dawson anticipated more charges will follow as the matter remains under investigation. Approximately 40 to 45 officers were involved in the searches and seizures over the weekend. At least eight law agencies in Canada, including the
Vernon RCMP task force, helped in the investigation along with
representatives from the U.S.
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Click here for RCMP News Release
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