Three Northern Minnesotans federally indicted for drug trafficking

Three Northern Minnesotans have been charged in federal court for drug trafficking to the Red Lake Reservation and surrounding area.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger says 27-year-old Derek Paddy of Bemidji, 25-year-old Erika Bellanger of Bemidji, and 44-year-old Raymond Drouillard of Trail were co-conspirators of the methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking operation.

The three were previously charged in the state court, after an arrest last October which included a bust of 147 grams, or 1,470 individual doses, of fentanyl.

Paddy and Bellanger made their initial appearances late last week, while Drouillard appeared on Jan. 5.

The Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, the Bemidji and Red Lake Police Departments, the BCA and the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.