Maskwacis: 9 charged after $103,000 in drugs seized

Nine people have been charged after three drug trafficking investigations involving Maskwacis RCMP led to the seizure of drugs valued at approximately $103,000, police said. The investigations, conducted with the Alberta RCMP Rural Organized Crime Team, led to seizures in September and October 2026.

The first investigation began in February and led to a search of a home on Ermineskin First Nation on Sept. 22. Police said they seized 70.5 grams of cocaine.

Shannah Crane and Clinton Potts, both of Maskwacis, are each charged with three counts of trafficking cocaine and one count of possessing cocaine. Both were arrested and released to appear in the Edmonton Court of Justice on Jan. 13, 2027.

Gun and drugs seized

A second investigation began in March after police received information about someone selling guns and drugs to Maskwacis community members. On Oct. 20, police seized a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun, brass knuckles, ammunition, 44.7 grams of cocaine and 31.5 grams of methamphetamine.

Lance Padgham of Ponoka is charged with four counts of trafficking cocaine, two counts of trafficking methamphetamine, two counts of weapons trafficking and one count of unauthorized possession of a firearm. He was arrested and released and is scheduled to appear in the Ponoka Court of Justice on Nov. 20, 2026.

Six charged in third investigation

The third investigation began in June and led investigators to Edmonton. A search warrant was conducted and arrests were made at various locations on Sept. 11, police said. They seized 775.19 grams of cocaine, 136 oxycodone tabs, 191 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 40 Xanax tabs, four LSD tablets, 1.25 grams of methamphetamine and $362,611.75 in Canadian currency.

Navjit Grewal is charged with four counts of trafficking cocaine, possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms, and five counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. Danette Crouter faces three counts of trafficking cocaine, the same two possession-for-trafficking charges and four counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

Taryn Gladue, Terren Arcand-Ward, Shawna Choi and Norvisi Amedoadzi are each charged with trafficking cocaine and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. All six accused were arrested and released to appear in Edmonton Provincial Court on Jan. 13, 2027.