Men charged with handing out free cocaine samples

WATCH ABOVE: Three Edmonton-area men are facing drug trafficking charges. They are accused of offering free cocaine to kids. Fletcher Kent reports.

EDMONTON – Three men have been arrested for allegedly providing youth with free drug samples in Old Strathcona.

Three men are accused of offering young people free samples of base cocaine in packages that included their contact information, in case the youth wanted to buy drugs in the future.

“What’s not surprising is the illegal drug trade to investigators. What’s unique is the brand of marketing I guess shall we say that they used in this particular instance,” said Scott Pattison, EPS Communications.

“But people who arguably dabble in illicit drugs I guess aren’t the smartest to begin with anyway.”

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The suspects allegedly handed out the drugs from a white Dodge Ram pick-up truck, while they were parked in Old Strathcona near 103 St. and 83 Ave.

“It was really important for us to get the message out to the community. We want parents to be aware that just in case this happens that so they establish that dialogue and has some communication with their kids,” said Pattison.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It was really important for us to get the message out to the community. We want parents to be aware that just in case this happens that so they establish that dialogue and has some communication with their kids," said Pattison.

Jesse Levesque, 22, Chris Hefford, 22, and Dan Friedrick, 25, have all been charged with trafficking, possession for the purpose and living off the proceeds of crime. Levesque and Hefford are from Edmonton, while Friedrick is from Spruce Grove.

The Edmonton Police Service’s Old Scona Beats and Drug Undercover Street Team conducted a two-day sting last week which targeted drug traffickers in Old Strathcona.