Following a media event on Nov. 13, Alberta RCMP made a major drug bust that would ensure millions of dollars worth of cocaine, no longer reaching communities in Alberta.
Sgt. Darrin Turnbull of Alberta RCMP Traffic, explained that on Oct. 23, a member of RCMP Traffic was conducting traffic enforcement on Highway 16 near Hinton.
“The officer, very keen and alert, observed a vehicle travelling on Highway 16 in a westbound direction,” Turnbull explained. “The vehicle had some vehicle equipment infractions that were evident to the officer, and the officer conducted a traffic stop.
“During the traffic stop, the officer noted signs to him that would be significant in regards to a drug investigation. As a result of that, a police service dog was brought to the scene.”
Upon the arrival of Cairo the police dog, an open-air sniff was conducted outside of the vehicle.
“The police service dog indicated the presence of illegal drugs in the vehicle,” he said. “As a result of that, [it] gave the officer reasonable grounds he needed to make an arrest of the driver. Subsequently to that arrest, a search of the vehicle was conducted.”
The search yielded 68 kg of cocaine, which has an estimated street value of $6.8 million. Turnbull outlines is an extremely significant seizure for Alberta RCMP. A loaded 9mm handgun was also found in the vehicle alongside the drugs.
“These drugs are no longer available to organized crime, to bring to our communities, and provide all those drugs to our communities,” he said.
Charges have now been laid against 36-year-old Ranjit Singh Sekhorn of Edmonton, Alberta. Sekhorn is currently remanded in custody until Nov. 21. Charges against Sekhorn include possession for the purpose of trafficking and six different firearms-related offenses.