Cocaine, pepper spray seizure lead to charges against Canadian soldier

 In Manitoba, a soldier has been accused of trafficking the cocaine. Master corporal Brent McCarthy, of the Canadian Forces Base in the city of Shilo was arrested at the beginning of the year at a traffic stop where cocaine was found on his person.

According to the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal and Canadian Forces Military Police Group, one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one of possession of a prohibited weapon.  During a home search on the same day, additional paraphernalia was found: drugs and pepper spray; and a digital scale and packaging were also present in his home; evidence of intent to sell.

He “is” with the 2^nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. He is currently free pending a court martial under the National Defense Act. In the year 2013, Master corporal Brent McCarthy was deployed for one tour to Kabul in Afghanistan from the month of June till October.

If the investigators know much about the case, they have not yet released any information that would shed light on his reasons—if any—for breaking the law. The accoused did his basic training: at Canadian Forces Leadership Recruit School in St. Jean, Quebec, and infantry training at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta.

It is easy for anyone to jump to the conclusion of PTSD which might very well be a reason but we should all hold off on any judgment or opinions we might have of this case. In due course, all shall be revealed.