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Cody Cruikshank was sentenced Tuesday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court. (Image Credit: File photo/ paNOW Staff)
Court proceedings

Drug bust made after single vehicle crash results in three-year prison sentence

Apr 29, 2026 | 10:02 AM

While searching a vehicle that was involved in a crash in the Shellbrook area, police found over 300 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine, and over $5,600 cash.

Those details were shared Tuesday morning during a sentencing hearing at Prince Albert Provincial Court.

Cody Cruikshank, the driver and lone occupant of the vehicle, entered guilty pleas to two trafficking related offences and received a three year prison sentence.

With remand credit, the 34-year-old has just under a year left to serve.

The case dates back to October, 2023 and the vehicle was found near Foxdale.

When police arrived, Cruikshank was in an ambulance receiving care.

The exact quantities of drugs found were 240 grams of meth and 130 grams of cocaine. Both drugs were in two separate bags.

Despite the fact there was no trafficking paraphernalia found like scales, Federal Crown Prosecutor Margaret Sproule said the combination of the quantity of the drugs found and the cash was telling enough.

The convictions marked Cruikshank’s fifth and sixth for trafficking however the last occurrence was in 2015 when he received a two-year sentence. Sproule stated Cruikshank has made considerable changes in his life, attending programming while on release and consistently reporting to his probation officer. 

“He’s in a repairing system in his life,” she said.

On this point Judge Healey interjected and asked the Crown to explain how Cruikshank who since 2022 has also accumulated other convictions such as assault, breach of a conditional sentence order, and mischief, could be considered on a good path.

“I continue to be amazed by the positions put forward by the federal Crown,” he said, adding the question at hand was not if he’s going to prison but how long.

“He hasn’t received the message in the past “

In response, Sproule explained the sentence was a step up from the past and added Cruikshank had attended programming, and was in a pro-social relationship.

Cruikshank’s later Tim Nolan reiterated he as in a stable relationship, focused on sobriety and upon release plans to work to support his family either in construction or starting up his own retail business.

“He wants to begin a new life,” he said.

In the end, Judge Healey accepted the joint submission presented by lawyers.

Following his release from custody, Cruikshank will be prohibited for life from owning or possessing any guns or explosives.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell