Canada Police Charge Six in Grande Prairie Organised Crime Investigation
| 2025-04-15
Canada Police Charge Six in Grande Prairie Organised Crime Investigation
Canadian police have charged six individuals after a major drug trafficking and organised crime investigation in Grande Prairie, Alberta.
Canadian law enforcement agencies have dismantled what they describe as a significant organised crime network operating in northern Alberta and British Columbia. The effort, named Project Glacier, resulted in the arrest of six individuals and the seizure of large quantities of illegal drugs, cash, and firearms.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), which led the investigation from its Grande Prairie office, announced that the operation concluded on 13 March 2025. The six suspects now face a combined total of 22 criminal charges, including conspiracy to traffic drugs and participation in a criminal organisation.
According to ALERT, 42-year-old Doug Wheeler from Wembley, Alberta, is alleged to be the leader of the network. He has been charged with instructing the commission of offences on behalf of a criminal organisation, among other related charges.
“Doug Wheeler was allegedly the head of a criminal organisation that was deeply rooted in Grande Prairie and beyond,” said Inspector Brad Lundeen of ALERT. “Drug trafficking, linked to his group, would have caused considerable community harm.”
The other individuals charged are:
Joseph Collicutt, 38, of Grande Prairie
Jesse Lukac, 31, of Grande Prairie
Patrick Arcand, 26, of Sexsmith
Cody Steven Yanishewski, 27, of Grande Prairie
Shannon Pearse, 31, of Grande Prairie
Seized Items and Criminal Assets
During the investigation, police seized an estimated C$283,000 in drugs and cash. Confiscated substances included over 2.2 kilograms of cocaine, nearly 320 grams of cutting agents, more than 1,100 illicit opioid pills, and various amounts of illegal anabolic steroids.
Two firearms were also recovered. One of the weapons—a loaded handgun—had previously been reported as stolen. The seized firearms will undergo forensic analysis at ALERT’s Provincial Firearms Solutions Lab to determine whether they were used in other criminal activities.
All six individuals are scheduled to appear in court on 26 May 2025 in Grande Prairie.
Coordinated Law Enforcement Effort
Project Glacier began in November 2022 and relied on cooperation from multiple local and national agencies. These included the Grande Prairie Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Grande Prairie Police Service, Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Alberta Registries Special Investigations Unit, and the Forensic Accounting Management Group.
The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), Canada’s financial intelligence unit, also contributed to the investigation by identifying potential financial links to illicit activity.
Context
Grande Prairie is a key economic centre in northern Alberta, located near the border with British Columbia’s Peace Region. The area’s proximity to interprovincial transport routes has made it vulnerable to organised crime operations, particularly drug distribution networks that span western Canada.
ALERT, which was created and is funded by the Government of Alberta, brings together expertise from various law enforcement agencies to combat serious and organised crime. It focuses on complex cases involving drug trafficking, firearms offences, and financial crimes.
Canadian authorities have repeatedly emphasised the risks that organised crime poses to local communities, particularly through violence, drug addiction, and the exploitation of legitimate businesses.
Further court proceedings will determine the legal outcomes for the accused. Meanwhile, police have urged the public to report any suspected gang or drug-related activity through official channels.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), which led the investigation from its Grande Prairie office, announced that the operation concluded on 13 March 2025. The six suspects now face a combined total of 22 criminal charges, including conspiracy to traffic drugs and participation in a criminal organisation.
According to ALERT, 42-year-old Doug Wheeler from Wembley, Alberta, is alleged to be the leader of the network. He has been charged with instructing the commission of offences on behalf of a criminal organisation, among other related charges.
“Doug Wheeler was allegedly the head of a criminal organisation that was deeply rooted in Grande Prairie and beyond,” said Inspector Brad Lundeen of ALERT. “Drug trafficking, linked to his group, would have caused considerable community harm.”
The other individuals charged are:
Joseph Collicutt, 38, of Grande Prairie
Jesse Lukac, 31, of Grande Prairie
Patrick Arcand, 26, of Sexsmith
Cody Steven Yanishewski, 27, of Grande Prairie
Shannon Pearse, 31, of Grande Prairie
Seized Items and Criminal Assets
During the investigation, police seized an estimated C$283,000 in drugs and cash. Confiscated substances included over 2.2 kilograms of cocaine, nearly 320 grams of cutting agents, more than 1,100 illicit opioid pills, and various amounts of illegal anabolic steroids.
Two firearms were also recovered. One of the weapons—a loaded handgun—had previously been reported as stolen. The seized firearms will undergo forensic analysis at ALERT’s Provincial Firearms Solutions Lab to determine whether they were used in other criminal activities.
All six individuals are scheduled to appear in court on 26 May 2025 in Grande Prairie.
Coordinated Law Enforcement Effort
Project Glacier began in November 2022 and relied on cooperation from multiple local and national agencies. These included the Grande Prairie Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Grande Prairie Police Service, Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Alberta Registries Special Investigations Unit, and the Forensic Accounting Management Group.
The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), Canada’s financial intelligence unit, also contributed to the investigation by identifying potential financial links to illicit activity.
Context
Grande Prairie is a key economic centre in northern Alberta, located near the border with British Columbia’s Peace Region. The area’s proximity to interprovincial transport routes has made it vulnerable to organised crime operations, particularly drug distribution networks that span western Canada.
ALERT, which was created and is funded by the Government of Alberta, brings together expertise from various law enforcement agencies to combat serious and organised crime. It focuses on complex cases involving drug trafficking, firearms offences, and financial crimes.
Canadian authorities have repeatedly emphasised the risks that organised crime poses to local communities, particularly through violence, drug addiction, and the exploitation of legitimate businesses.
Further court proceedings will determine the legal outcomes for the accused. Meanwhile, police have urged the public to report any suspected gang or drug-related activity through official channels.
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