ALERT Medicine Hat's organized crime team has charged 10 locals and seized more than $40,000 worth of drugs in an investigation targeting street-level dealers.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
ALERT Medicine Hat’s organized crime team has charged 10 local drug traffickers in an investigation aimed to disrupt street-level drug sales in the city.
Their investigation targeted downtown street-level drug dealers who were allegedly involved in selling fentanyl to vulnerable people without fixed addresses.
“ALERT launched this investigation in late December 2023 to undermine the illicit supply that was targeting a vulnerable population and causing harm in our community,” said Staff Sgt. Ryan Thorburn with ALERT Medicine Hat.
ALERT says the investigation culminated Jan. 31 after a hotel room was searched with the aid of local police.
“The hotel room was just being used by this kind of transient group to essentially stash the drugs,” said spokesperson Mike Tucker. “It’s part of their packaging and processing.”
The 10 suspects, who all were known to police, were arrested in days following the raid at the hotel.
More than $40,000 worth of drugs were sized, including 134 grams of fentanyl, 204 grams of methamphetamine, 19 grams of cocaine as well as prescription pills and $4,000 cash.
“When you see 10 drug traffickers charged, it’s going to have an impact,” said Tucker. “It disrupts the flow of drugs finding their way on the street. Medicine Hat has been no stranger to the opioid crisis.
“So this will be great putting those up before the courts, and hopefully send a strong message of deterrence to other potential dealers.”
The suspects face a total of 48 criminal offences, and each individual has been charged with at least one drug trafficking charge.
Police say the following suspects are known for previous drug trafficking offences and several suspects are being charged with breaching current probation orders:
– Stacey Heidel, 48
– Danny Snyder, 40
– Wendy Scott, 39
– Donald Jamieson, 48
– Cory Snyder, 44
– Brandon Pudwell, 31
– Douglas Abraham, 44
– Tristan Skappak, 33
– Daniel Giurissevich, 60
– Jared Martin, 28
Police say they have seen the effects of fentanyl addictions first hand and continue to deal with the same suspects involved in trafficking the drug.
“In this case we had 10 dealers who are accused of supplying the vulnerable street population with this drug,” says Tucker.
“It shouldn’t be any surprise that these are people who have come up time and time again and, really, enough is enough. They were targeted in this investigation to be put behind bars.”
Residents who suspect drug activity can contact police at 403-529-8481 or online at mhps.ca.
