The drugs that were seized by police. (Image Credit: RCMP)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Big River drug trafficker receives 5 year prison sentence

Apr 6, 2026 | 4:05 PM

Stating the need for a denunciation and deterrence, a Prince Albert judge has sentenced a convicted drug trafficker to five years in prison.

Wilson Coutts’s case was concluded Monday afternoon at Prince Albert Provincial Court. Guilty verdicts were rendered last January to trafficking meth, cocaine and LSD. He was also found guilty of fraud, obstruction, and proceeds of crime under $5,000.

“Trafficking in drugs, particularly hard drugs, is harmful to victims but also to society itself…children suffer immense harm, both due to pre-natal impact and growing up in violent homes where they should be safe,” Judge Healey said.

“Trafficking in hard drugs is a crime with such grievous consequences that it tears at the very fabric of society and is deserving of a significant penitentiary sentence.”

The case dates back to late December, 2023. A traffic stop in Big River resulted in the seizure of 450 grams of cocaine, 285 grams of meth, 111 LSD blotters, and 63 grams of an unknown substance investigators suspected at the time to contain fentanyl.

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There was also over $2,400 in cash.

At the trial, Coutts testified that during the pandemic, after his construction business went under, he began spending more time at home and turned to drugs to cope with depression.

To pay for his drug addiction, Coutts made regular trips back to B.C., picking up drugs and then selling them in the Big River area.

He sold a gram of cocaine for $70 and a gram of meth for $30.

While also initially charged with trafficking fentanyl, Coutts was able to convince the judge it was only for personal use and that he would never sell such a dangerous drug.

With remand credit, Coutts has about two-and-a half years remaining on his sentence. He’s also prohibited for life from owning or possessing any firearms or explosives.

Also charged was Marcia McMahon who was a passenger in the vehicle and carried a bag containing drugs.

She entered guilty pleas to possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and meth and received a one-year sentence (time served) plus six months probation.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell