A man has been charged in connection to drug trafficking that was occurring within Stoney Nakoda First Nation.
In April of 2025, Cochrane RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (CRU), with the assistance from RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region, began an investigation into a male suspected of trafficking drugs between Calgary and Lethbridge.
On February 26, 2026, the RCMP located a vehicle associated with the suspect at a known problem address on Stoney Nakoda First Nation, and the vehicle was subsequently towed after the registered owner claimed it had been taken without consent.
Through an investigation, Cochrane CRU confirmed that the suspect was actively involved in drug trafficking within the Stoney Nakoda First Nation community, and investigators utilized several techniques that ultimately led officers to a storage locker in Airdrie.
It was confirmed by police that the storage locker belonged to the suspect, and on March 9, 2026, the RCMP executed a search warrant on the storage locker.
During that search, investigators seized roughly 1.4 kilos of controlled substances.
The suspect was not present at the time of the search.
Then, on March 11, 2026, the suspect attended a tow yard in Cochrane where the previously towed vehicle from Stoney Nakoda First Nation was stored.
Officers with Cochrane RCMP, General Investigation Section (GIS), and CRU, along with assistance from Southern Alberta District GIS, established covert surveillance on the suspect.
Additional resources were deployed to assist, which included the Emergency Response Team, RCMP Police Dog Services, and Calgary Police Services HAWCS, however, the suspect exited his vehicle and began walking away while carrying a bag.
Police quickly moved in and apprehended him safely.
A search of the bag incidental to arrest resulted in the additional seizure of 2.7 kilos of suspected drugs.
In total, investigators seized:
- 581.2 grams of suspected fentanyl;
- 1041 grams of suspected cocaine
- 2472.4 grams of suspected methamphetamine
- 2.2 grams of suspected carfentanil
- $6798 of Canadian currency.
The estimated street value of the seized drugs is approximately $450,000.
As a result, 42-year-old resident of Calgary, Dylan Watson, has been charged with:
- Possession for the Purposes of Trafficking Cocaine (x2);
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Fentanyl (x2); and
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Methamphetamine (x2).
After a Judicial Interim Release hearing, Watson was remanded into custody.
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