What started as a seatbelt traffic stop for a Meadow Lake RCMP officer ended with three arrests and the seizure of 54 grams of suspected cocaine.

On November 1, an officer stopped a vehicle on Highway 55 east of Meadow Lake after noticing a passenger of the vehicle was not wearing their seatbelt.

The officer looked through the identification f the three occupants of the vehicle before informing them they were detained on scene for the purpose of a drug investigation.

Alongside the seized cocaine, RCMP seized drug paraphernalia, one scale, three cellphones, several baggies and one metal collapsible baton.

Now, 40-year-old John Duchak, from McCreary, Manitoba, 34-year-old Jason Sawitsky, from Witchekan Lake First Nation, and 44-year-old Sharleen Scott, from Witchekan Lake First Nation are scheduled to appear in court on January 5. Investigation determined the illegal drugs were destined for the Witchekan Lake area, in Saskatchewan.