By Taylor MacPherson

Alleged cocaine trafficker to seek bail again

May 2, 2017 | 2:00 PM

A Prince Albert man allegedly busted with large quantities of cocaine on two separate occasions will be seeking his release from custody next week, for the second time in just under five months.

Kole Michael Marchant, 28, was first arrested Nov. 20, 2016 along with six others at the conclusion of a five-month investigation by the Prince Albert Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFESU). Police seized just over a kilogram of cocaine during the bust, along with roughly $30,000 in cash, several vehicles, electronics and a relatively small amount of marijuana.

At Marchant’s first bail hearing Dec. 2, Crown prosecutor Dan Heffernan said Marchant acted as the “mastermind” behind an elaborate trafficking operation bringing the illegal drugs from Alberta to P.A. for sale. Marchant, Heffernan said, made regular cash deposits into a bank account and paid $11,000 in cash when purchasing a truck despite having no known employment.

Despite the serious allegations against him, Marchant was released from custody Dec. 8 on a $10,000 cash recognisance. He was ordered to remain on his father’s rural property 24 hours a day while wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet, and further release conditions prohibited him from using computers or cellphones, or contacting any of the six co-accused.

Just months after his release, however, Marchant found himself facing further accusations of large-scale cocaine trafficking.

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CFSEU officers with support from the local RCMP executed a search warrant at a rural residence near P.A. on April 21. During the raid, officers seized 246 g of cocaine, $3,000 in cash and four grams of marijuana, and Marchant was once again taken into police custody.

Marchant made an appearance this morning in provincial court, but his lawyer Peter Abrametz requested and was granted a week-long adjournment to allow him time to prepare his case. Marchant, seated behind the glass in the prisoner’s box, raised a hand in salute to his family members present in the courtroom before he was led away.

Marchant will be back in court May 9 to seek his release. The allegations against him have not been proven in court.

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TMacPhersonNews

–EDITOR’s NOTE: This story has been closed to commenting because the matter is still before the court.