Joint drug trafficking investigation nabs 33 suspects

SPRUCE GROVE -- A Spruce Grove area woman has been charged as part of a major drug trafficking investigation spanning several provinces.

35-year-old Chelsea Mageau has been charged along with 32 other suspects, most of whom from Winnipeg, after an extensive investigation into drug trafficking that first began in Manitoba back in 2024. Parkland RCMP initially began their investigation into Mageau last year and eventually connected her to the larger criminal operation in Calgary, Manitoba, and Ontario.

After the lengthy investigation involving police agencies from across Canada, $37.2 million in illicit drug seizures were made. A large quantity of weapons was also seized. Many of the suspects arrested are alleged to have had ties with criminal organizations such as Mexican Cartels. 

"In this case, no single agency could have achieved this result alone. It required trust, timely information-sharing, and a willingness to hand off and support efforts across provincial and organizational boundaries," said Inspector Kevin McGillivray, Officer in Charge of the Parkland County RCMP. "It also highlights how a single investigation, when supported by strong partnerships, can have a much broader disruptive effect on organized crime networks, particularly where individuals play significant roles in trafficking and production."

The joint operation spanned approximately two years, concluding in March 2026, and focused on multiple drug trafficking cells operating under a single umbrella organization believed to be sourcing controlled substances from a national-level supplier. Through this enforcement action, investigators aimed to disrupt and dismantle individual trafficking networks while gathering intelligence related to the higher levels of the criminal organization.

The investigation determined that controlled substances were imported from the U.S. using commercial vehicles and subsequently warehoused in Alberta and Ontario. The drugs were then transported into Manitoba through various methods, including mail services, courier deliveries, commercial transport, and private vehicles equipped with hidden compartments.