A 73-year-old man from a southern Alberta town has been arrested and charged with drug trafficking charges, RCMP said Friday.
Police say the man was found with a “substantial amount” of cocaine, methamphetamine and crime proceeds, which Bow Island RCMP seized Thursday with the help of the RCMP’s Southern Alberta Crime Reduction Unit.
Mounties searched an unnamed business, a residence and two vehicles in Bow Island, a town of about 2,000 people roughly 230 kilometres southeast of Calgary.
The investigation began in September after local residents had raised concerns about drug trafficking in town and the County of Forty Mile region, said police.
Bow Island resident Bryan Judkins, a 73, faces numerous charges, including possession of both cocaine and methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of property obtained by crime.
Judkins has been released from custody and is next scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 8.
“Drug trafficking is extremely harmful, especially in small communities, that can jeopardize our neighbourhood’s wellbeing and put innocent people at risk, this type of illegal activity will not be tolerated,” said Sgt. Alan Rivard, Bow Island RCMP detachment commander, in a Friday statement.