Major Drug and Weapons Bust on Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation

URGENT UPDATE: In a significant law enforcement operation, the Valleyview RCMP arrested four individuals and confiscated a substantial cache of drugs and weapons during a search warrant executed on the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation on October 6, 2023. The raid led to the seizure of 70 grams of cocaine, over $7,500 CAD in cash, one shotgun, three pistols, ammunition, and various drug trafficking paraphernalia, highlighting serious concerns over narcotics and firearms in the area.

Authorities report that those arrested include 18-year-old Hayden Halcrow from High Prairie, 31-year-old Jamie Lee Pickard from Edmonton, 29-year-old Jeneva Choice from Valleyview, and a 16-year-old youth whose identity remains protected. All four face severe charges, including possession of cocaine with intent to traffic and failure to comply with a court order. Notably, Choice is facing an additional 15 undisclosed charges.

Following their arrests, the group appeared before a justice of the peace and has been remanded into custody. Halcrow, Choice, and Pickard are scheduled to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in Edmonton on October 9, while the youth is set for October 8, 2023.

This operation underscores the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces regarding drug and weapon-related crimes in Indigenous territories. It also raises pressing questions about community safety and the measures needed to combat drug trafficking in these regions.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops and authorities continue their investigation into the extent of drug operations in the area.