An apparent selfie by a driver has led to a traffic stop that resulted in the seizure of $74k in drugs and cash in Winnipeg. Police report that on November 13, 2018, at approximately 1:00 am, an East District Community Support unit was travelling on Portage Avenue at Edmonton Street when they observed a male driving while holding a cell-phone with both hands and taking what appeared to be a picture of himself.
A traffic stop was conducted in the 300 block of Portage Avenue and officers observed a bag of what they believed to be methamphetamine inside the vehicle.
The driver was placed under arrest and a search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of a number of items including the following:
– 16.5 ounces of methamphetamine (estimated street value of $16,000)
– 23.3 ounces of cocaine (estimated street value of $46,000)
– 3 grams of heroin (estimated street value of $1,500)
– 13.9 ounces of a cutting agent
– 229 Xanax pills (estimated street value of $900)
– $2,285 in Canadian currency
– 2 mobile phones
– Digital scale
Randy Billy Bastien, a 38-year-old male of Winnipeg, has been charged with:
– Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Methamphetamine
– Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine
– Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Heroin
– Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Alprazolam
– Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
Bastien was remanded into custody.
Winnipeg Police and the Crown have apparently decided to let the charge of distracted driving go as the more serious charges have been laid.
None of the charges have been proven in court.