Police seized meth, cocaine, hash, and break-in tools and make arrests after stopping a vehicle for a seatbelt infraction.
On April 18, Alberta RCMP Traffic Whitecourt Unit was performing roving patrols in Whitecourt when they observed a driver on Hwy 43 wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.
A roadside stop was conducted and the Alberta RCMP Traffic Unit officer noted that the VIN didn’t match the registration and insurance documents. It was determined that the vehicle had been stolen out of Didsbury in 2022.
In a search of the vehicle, police seized more than $10,000 in drugs including 156 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 8.5 grams of suspected cocaine, 7 grams of suspected hash, and break-in tools.
Amanda Lee McVittie, 52, of Calgary, was charged with two count of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of break in tools, breach of undertaking, and four traffic safety tickets.
McVittie was released on conditions and is to appear at the Alberta Court of Justice in Whitecourt on June 11.
On April 19, at 5 p.m., Alberta RCMP Traffic – Whitecourt Unit was performing speed enforcement on Hwy 43 near Whitecourt. A vehicle was observed traveling at 146 km/h in a 110km/h zone. An Alberta RCMP Traffic Unit conducted a roadside stop and observed the windows being rolled down, letting a cloud of cannabis-tinted smoke waft out, while hand rolled cigarettes were being thrown. The officer noted drugs in the vehicle, resulting in the arrest of six people.
The vehicle was searched and the following items, valued at over $90,000, were seized including 1.2 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, 178.8 grams of suspected cocaine;
2,938 millilitres of codeine syrup, 78 bars of alprazolam, and a loaded prohibited handgun.
Police arrested Tommy Kayfay, 19, and Chino Guiawan, 21, both of Edmonton, as well as Bradley Mercredi, 32, and April Sayine, 33, both resident of Yellowknife, NT. They were charged with four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, five firearm-related offences, and two counts of transporting Cannabis/Alcohol within easy access of occupant.
Gulied Ahmed Umar, 19, of Edmonton, was charged with four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, six firearm-related offences, two counts of transporting Cannabis/Alcohol within easy access of occupant, two counts of breach of release order, and impaired driving and speeding).
Suleiman Mohamed Abdow, 28, of Edmonton, was charged with four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, six firearm-related offences, two counts of transporting Cannabis/Alcohol within easy access of occupant, possession of an identity document not belonging to him, obstruct a police officer, identity fraud, and breach of a release order.
Abdow, Umar, Guiawan, Kayfay, Mercredi, and Sayine were brought before a justice of the peace.
Abdow and Umar were remanded into custody, to appear at the Alberta Court of Justice in Whitecourt on May 14.
Guiawan, Kayfay, Mercredi, and Sayine were released on conditions, to appear at the Alberta Court of Justice in Whitecourt on May 14.
“The Alberta RCMP Traffic – Whitecourt Unit are always hard at work not only enforcing traffic-related laws but making sure that illegal goods transiting through the area are seized and that the people found with them are dealt with according to the applicable laws,” said Sgt. Greg Anderson, NCO i/c of the Alberta RCMP Traffic – Whitecourt Unit. “The Whitecourt unit provides Traffic Services such as community consultations, education and enforcement, to four detachment areas, including Whitecourt, Mayerthorpe, Fox Creek and Swan Hills. Although our mandate is to provide traffic-related services, the Alberta RCMP Traffic-Whitecourt Unit also provides back-up, support and assistance to these detachments as necessary.”
