Courtenay Serah Cross, 45, is wanted by RCMP after leaving an approved residence just five days after leaving jail. (Nanaimo RCMP)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

warrant issued

Canada wide warrant issued for prolific Nanaimo drug trafficker

Dec 30, 2021 | 2:09 PM

NANAIMO — Mounties across the country are on the look out for a Nanaimo woman with an extensive criminal history.

Courtenay Serah Cross, 45-years-old, was released from prison on Dec. 16 on statutory release after completing a 27-month sentence for drug trafficking.

However, five days after her release, she left a court approved residence and has not been seen since.

Cross is described as 5’6″, 120 pounds, while the picture supplied by Nanaimo RCMP is recent.

Her criminal history is extensive and dates back to the early 2000’s, centred mainly around possession and trafficking of controlled substances.

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The recent jail sentence stemmed from a June 2020 conviction on two counts of possession and trafficking.

She was found to have more than eight grams of heroin and fentanyl, along with cocaine during a January 2017 raid of her apartment.

BC Supreme Court Justice Paul Riley had originally sentenced her to three years in jail, however she was credited down to 27 months for time served.

During the sentencing hearing, Cross’ upbringing was identified as a contributing factor after being raised by alcoholic parents and using hard drugs as a teenager.

It was also noted Cross was not a high school graduate and had relied on the sex trade and selling drugs to make ends meet.

“By not dealing with her drug problem and continuing to distribute dangerous and addictive drugs to other people, Ms. Cross is only expanding the scope of misery caused by these substances to other people,” Justice Riley said in June 2020.

The sentencing of Cross was delayed a year after she failed to appear for a June 2019 court date. A warrant for her arrest was issued and she was brought in by police the following December.

Offenders serving sentences two years in length or more are entitled to statutory release after serving two-thirds of their sentences unless they are likely to commit a serious offence before the end of their sentence.

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