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Six charged with trafficking cocaine

RCMP expect arrests to have an impact on Whistler's drug scene

By Clare Ogilvie

A year-long investigation into cocaine trafficking has led to the arrest of six people in Whistler.

“The investigation started in 2006,” said RCMP Cst. Anne-Marie Gallop.

“The actual charges came from activity on various months in 2006. In 2007 the investigation was put together and charges laid.”

Most of the trafficking took place in the village.

Whistler RCMP officers along with the General Investigations Section of the Sea to Sky Regional RCMP worked undercover to catch the dealers, all working separately.

Whistler has been focusing on how to keep people coming here to have a good time while making it clear guests can’t do it at others’ expense or by breaking the law.

The Victoria Day weekend brings thousands to the resort and in recent years has been a time of trouble. This year scores of police, including Emergency Response Team officers, a dog master, and school liaison officers patrolled the streets to tackle trouble.

Drug use and drunken behaviour are issues the resort likes to playdown, but like most communities, said Gallop, there are drugs available.

“Drug trafficking does exist here in Whistler,” said Gallop, adding that police expect the arrests to impact the drug scene in the resort.

“We are always on the lookout and we are always looking for information from someone out there who may know an individual or an area that is known for it.”

Charged are Jean Francois Veilleux, Robert Cook, Jennifer Ingram, Darryl Brown, Keith Pope and David Kelleher. All are alleged to have trafficked cocaine to uncover police officers.

Cook was also charged with possession for the purposes of trafficking after a number of tablets, believed to be ecstacy, were seized during his arrest Friday.

Cook, Ingram, Brown, Pope and Kelleher were released from custody and ordered to appear in North Vancouver to face charges at a later date.

Veilleux was taken in custody to North Vancouver.