Two men face charges following drug bust on Blood Reserve

VARIOUS DRUGS, PREPAID CREDIT CARDS FOUND IN MOSES LAKE RESIDENCE

Two men have been arrested and will remain in custody at least until Monday following a drug bust in Moses Lake on the Blood Reserve earlier in the week.

Blood Tribe police searched a residence Wednesday, where they seized 21.5 grams of crack cocaine, nine carfentanil tablets, oxycodon, assorted drug paraphernalia, prepaid credit cards and nearly $400 in cash.

Richard Prairie Chicken and Duane Small Eyes are each charged with two counts of drug possession for the purpose of trafficking, and single counts of drug possession and possession of stolen property.

The accused were in Lethbridge provincial court Friday, where they appeared by closed-circuit TV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre. Duty counsel represented the two men and told court they each plan to a retain lawyer. And even though they were scheduled to have a bail hearing, the Federal Crown prosecutor requested the hearing be held next week.

Under Section 516 of the Criminal Code a judge may, on application by the Crown, adjourn the bail hearing and remand an accused to custody. However, the adjournment cannot be for more than three days, unless the accused consents to a longer adjournment.

The matter is scheduled to return to Cardston provincial court on Monday.

Police are asking anyone with information about this matter or any other matter to contact the Blood Tribe Police Service at 403-737-3800, the Crime Reduction Unit at 403737-8808, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).