Cops smash coke trafficking ring
By Mo Cranker on November 23, 2018.
NEWS FILE PHOTOPolice say they have smashed a local drug trafficking ring, announcing Friday morning that that have seized $200,000 worth of cocaine, 14 guns and stolen property. The 11-month investigation by Medicine Hat Police, RCMP throughout southern Alberta, and other agencies in the ALERT network has led to charges against nine Hat or Redcliff residents and one man from Saskatchewan. More details are expected to be released at a morning press conference in Medicine Hat. Arrests on Nov. 15 and 16 last week follow raids on two Medicine Hat homes and another in Redcliff, where, police allege, they found 1.1 kilograms of cocaine, rifles and handguns and a large volume of ammunition. Police say 27-year-old Derec Trekofski, of Medicine Hat, was the “top of the network.” He and two other men, Sean Engel, 28, of Redcliff, and Ian Gabriel, 29, of Medicine Hat, are charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine and participating in a criminal organization. Gabriel and another Hat resident involved in the case, Ethan Tough, 28, are still at large with warrants issued for their arrest. Others facing charges include Krystal Chin, 26, Mitchell Wasiliew, 29, Trenton Holmstrom, 27, all of Medicine Hat, as well as Justin Allen, 32, and Kristen Allen, 30, both of Redcliff. Kerry Denis, a 53-year-old man from Leoville, Sask., also faces charges. 9
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