Manitoba

Anola man charged after trying to smuggle meth-filled balloon into prison: Manitoba RCMP

A 26-year-old man is in police custody and facing a drug trafficking charge after officers say he attempted to smuggle meth into a Manitoba prison after his arrest.

26-year-old repeatedly asked to be taken to different facility after arrest, Selkirk RCMP say

Police sirens, which are flashing red and blue.
Selkirk RCMP began to suspect a man arrested Monday was attempting to smuggle drugs, after he repeatedly asked to be taken to a specific facility. (Gian-Paolo Mendoza/CBC)

A 26-year-old man is in police custody and facing a drug trafficking charge after officers say he attempted to smuggle meth into a Manitoba prison after his arrest.

RCMP officers on patrol in Selkirk were flagged down by a driver at a business on Main Street around 3:25 a.m. Monday, police said in a Tuesday news release.

The man told police he had picked up a hitchhiker who had become disruptive and was refusing to leave his car. 

Mounties spoke with the hitchhiker and found out he was wanted on a number of outstanding warrants, including a parole warrant. 

After being arrested and taken to the Selkirk RCMP detachment, the man repeatedly pushed to be taken to a different facility, police said.

Officers suspected the man had ingested drugs and was attempting to smuggle them into a prison. 

He was instead taken to hospital, where he eventually passed a balloon filled with 34 grams of methamphetamine, police said.

A pink balloon with a tear in the middle that shows what is believed to be drugs inside.
The man was taken to hospital, where he eventually passed a balloon filled with 34 grams of methamphetamine, RCMP say. (Selkirk RCMP)

Officers have recently seen an increase in people turning themselves in specifically for the purpose of smuggling drugs into prison, Selkirk RCMP Staff Sgt. Kyle McFadyen said in the news release.

The 26-year-old man from Anola, Man., has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking. He was remanded into custody.