Edmonton men charged with selling unstamped tobacco, cannabis in Maskwacis
Three men from the Alberta capital are facing charges after a "significant seizure" including thousands of illicit cigarettes, hundreds of pills, several kilograms of marijuana and thousands of dollars in cash.
RCMP in Maskwacis, Alta., said Thursday that they started investigating a "trafficking network" in June 2021.
On Tuesday, police began executing six search warrants at a home in Ermineskin Cree Nation and a storage locker in Edmonton. They also searched two vehicles.
Police said they seized:
- 50,000 Illicit cigarettes, valued at $44,000
- 7.7 kilograms (17 lbs.) of illegal Cannabis, with a street value of $75,000
- 1,200 unidentified pills
- 1 litre of Cannabis resin
- $38,000 in cash proceeds
Then, on May 25, police searched a home and vehicle in Edmonton, finding:
- 1.6 kilograms of cocaine
- About 740 grams of what is believed to be buffing agent
- Items used to produce crack cocaine
- $16,560 in cash
- roughly 13 pounds of illegal cannabis
- 5,400 cigarettes
Together, the seizures throughout May have a value of $400,000 police said.
In connection to the May 17 seizures, Salih Khoshnaw, 32, and Leslie Dennehy, 35, were charged.
Khoshnaw was charged with:
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Possession of unstamped tobacco products for the purpose of selling
- Fraud over $5,000
Khoshnaw also faces one count of unlawfully selling tobacco products that were not stamped.
Dennehy was charged with:
- Possess cannabis for the purpose of distribution
- Possess cannabis for the purpose of selling
Dennehy also faces a weapons charge.
Shimal Saad, 33, was charged in connection to the May 25 seizure with:
- Posession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking
- Possession of an item to produce a controlled substance
- Possession of unstamped tobacco for the purpose of sale
- Possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000
- Possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution
- Possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling
- Possession of unstamped tobacco product
- Four counts of fraud
- Possession of cannabis contrary to Section 90.08(1) of the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act
Khoshnaw is scheduled to appear in Edmonton Provincial Court on June 15 at 8:15 a.m.
Dennehy is scheduled to appear on June 10 at 8:15 a.m. in the same court.
Saad was released after a bail hearing and given a court date i Edmonton on June 9 at 8:30 a.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.