As a result of several months of investigation, Lakeland RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (CRU), with assistance from Cold Lake and Bonnyville RCMP Detachments, Eastern Alberta District CRU and General Investigations Section, and the RCMP Auto Theft Unit, executed multiple search warrants at a residential property within the City of Cold Lake. As a result of the search warrants, RCMP recovered approximately $45,000 worth of stolen property, approximately 78 grams of what is suspected to be cocaine, and over $20,000 in fraudulent Canadian currency.
On Nov. 24, 2022, a 36-year-old individual, a resident of Cold Lake, was arrested and charged with 21 offences, some of which include:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking
- Possession of a prohibited weapon
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000 x2
- Fraud
- Possession of counterfeit money
- Fail to comply with prohibition x4
The individual was held for a judicial interim release hearing where he was remanded into custody. The individual is scheduled to appear in Wetaskiwin provincial court via CCTV on Nov. 29, 2022.
Police are asking businesses and civilians to be cautious and diligent when accepting paper currency from unknown individuals. Police are also reminding the public to also ask for a second piece of identification whenever entering into any contract with an unknown person.