Castlegar man awaiting drug trafficking sentence back in custody
By Castlegar Source
Thirty-eight-year-old Andrew Cancela who was awaiting sentencing for two separate drug trafficking charges is back in custody after police execute search warrant at a residence, according to Castlegar RCMP top cop Sgt. Monty Taylor..
“On Nov. 10, the Castlegar RCMP Crime Reduction Unit, with support from frontline … officers executed a search warrant at a residence in the 2600 block of 5th Avenue of Castlegar,” Taylor said. “The search warrant was obtained to further the investigation into the trafficking of a controlled substance.
“Upon execution of the search warrant three occupants, two men and a woman, were taken into police custody without incident. During the search investigators seized over a kilogram of suspected cocaine, over half a kilogram of suspected amphetamine, psilocybin, items consistent with the trafficking of illicit drugs and Canadian currency.
“One of the men and the woman were released from police custody whereas Cancela was transported back to the Castlegar RCMP Detachment. The Public Prosecution Service of Canada has formally charged 38-year-old Andrew Cancela of Castlegar with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking contrary to section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and failing to comply with a release order contrary to section 145(5)(a) of the Criminal Code.
“At the time of his arrest, Cancela was awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to two separate drug trafficking charges. In 2021, Castlegar RCMP executed a search warrant at his residence which resulted in the seizure of cocaine and over $78,000 in Canadian currency and, in 2020, Castlegar RCMP seized a quantity of cocaine from Cancela after a traffic stop. For these charges, Cancela had been released and bound by conditions while awaiting sentencing which was scheduled for Jan. 11, 2023.
On Nov. 10, Cancela appeared before the Provincial Court where he has been held in custody to next appear Nov. 16, 2022.”
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