St. Albert RCMP release names, details of dramatic takedown in February

RCMP have released the names of two people arrested in a dramatic takedown in St. Albert last month.

The St. Albert RCMP drug unit began a drug trafficking investigation into one or more persons believed to be selling cocaine in early January, according to a statement released by RCMP March 3.

On Feb. 10, the drug unit, along with the RCMP emergency response team and St. Albert general duty members, located and arrested two people outside the Canadian Brewhouse restaurant at the south end of St. Albert.

An eyewitness who witnessed that arrest told The Gazette last month he saw what appeared to be police officers loading up an unmarked van and two pickup trucks in the parking lot by Beaudry Place next to Canadian Tire on Feb. 10. The vehicles arrived at the Superstore parking lot near St. Albert Trail and Hebert Road at about 5:50 p.m., then moved to the nearby Canadian Brewhouse parking lot at about 6:45 p.m.

At about 7 p.m., the eyewitness said RCMP officers dressed in camouflage and tactical clothing jumped out of the unmarked van and apprehended a female and a male in the Brewhouse parking lot.

Officers also seized three cellphones, about 63 grams of powder cocaine, about two grams of crack cocaine, around six grams of fentanyl, and $900, the RCMP reported.

Zahra Al Nemesh, 23, of Edmonton, was arrested and charged with five counts of trafficking a controlled substance and four counts of possession of property obtained by crime.

George Ishiekwene, 22, of Edmonton, was arrested and charged with trafficking a controlled substance and possession of property obtained by crime.

Al Nemesh and Ishiekwene were released from custody and are set to appear in St. Albert Provincial Court on March 28.