Portage la Prairie RCMP make arrests after cocaine, unstamped tobacco found in vehicle

June 30, 2026 - Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
From: Manitoba RCMP

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On June 29, at approximately 3:15 p.m., RCMP performed a traffic stop on a truck leaving the parking lot of a business on the 100-block of Saskatchewan Avenue West in Portage la Prairie.

RCMP learned the driver did not have a valid licence, one of his passengers was wearing a monitored ankle bracelet, and a third individual was carrying unstamped tobacco.  All three were arrested.

A subsequent search of the vehicle and suspects uncovered more than 30 grams of cocaine, cash, cellphones and drug paraphernalia – including a scale.

Cole Meeches, 29, of Long Plain First Nation is charged with:

• Possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking; and
• Failure to comply with a release order.

Shaden Meeches, 29, of Portage la Prairie is charged with:

• Possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking; and
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.

Shaden was also ticketed for driving without a valid licence, which carries a $298 fine.

Both were held in custody overnight in advance of court appearances on Tuesday.

A 47-year-old female was ticketed for possessing unstamped tobacco, which carries a fine of $2,542. She was subsequently released from custody.