December 13th, 2024

Pair charged after $78K drug bust is still without lawyers

By Jeremy Appel on September 14, 2018.

PHOTO FROM WWW.TWITTER.COM/ALERT_AB
An investigation by ALERT Medicine Hat's organized crime unit resulted in the seizure of nearly $78,000 in drugs on Sept. 6, 2018. The two people charged are still searching for legal representation and their matters were adjourned until Oct. 4.

Medicine Hat News

Two people arrested in a $78,000 drug bust last week are still in search of legal representation, Medicine Hat Provincial Court heard Thursday.

Nicholas Belanger, 29, and Devan Koehle, 19, are each charged with five counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purposes of trafficking and one count of possession of proceeds of crime.

Each appeared in court via closed-circuit TV from the Medicine Hat Remand Centre.

The Crown is proceeding by indictment on all charges, meaning Belanger and Koehle could face significant jail time.

Their matters were adjourned to Oct. 4.

Belanger and Koehle were arrested after ALERT Medicine Hat investigators executed a search warrant Sept. 6 on a storage locker in Brier Industrial Estates based on a tip from the public.

Police found methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and buffing agent in the locker.

Later that day, they found Belanger and Koehle at a hotel on 13th Avenue, where they discovered more methamphetamine, cocaine and buffing agent, as well as $20,000 cash proceeds of crime.

In total, ALERT seized 713 grams of methamphetamine, 247 grams of cocaine and 35 grams of fentanyl powder.

The arrests were the result of an investigation that began in August, which is now wrapped up.

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