The Red Deer RCMP arrested three people and laid 50 charges following a multi-agency investigation, which led to a series of drug busts and resulted in one of the largest drug seizures in Red Deer history.

Red Deer RCMP began their investigation into a drug trafficking ring in central Alberta in late June 2018, and that investigation quickly led to ties with drug trafficking activity in Airdrie, Alta., and Calgary. The Red Deer RCMP General Investigation Section unit collaborated with Red Deer ALERT, Airdrie RCMP, Calgary Police Service, and Calgary Federal Serious and Organized Crime units to execute a series of coordinated search warrants for one vehicle and four residences in Red Deer, Calgary, Airdrie, and Rocky View County on August 8, 2018.

As a result of those five search warrants, the following were seized by police.

  • 1.67 kg of cocaine
  • 1.26 kg of fentanyl
  • 1.44 kg of ketamine
  • 2.61 kg of methamphetamine
  • 3.5 kg of cannabis
  • 261 g of psilocybin (magic mushrooms)
  • 22 g heroin
  • 6 litres of hydroxybutyric acid (GHB)
  • More than 200 other tablets of various controlled substances (fentanyl, oxycodone, diazepam)
  • 9 firearms and ammunition
  • More than $61,000 in Canadian currency

“This is one the most significant drugs seizures we’ve seen in Red Deer,” said Inspector Dean LaGrange, of the Red Deer RCMP. "It was the direct result of a coordinated effort across several partner agencies, and great teamwork and determination among our members. It also serves as an important reminder to traffickers that there are consequences to trafficking drugs in this province – our members are skilled investigators trained in detection of drug trafficking and you will be caught.”

may be less experienced in trafficking and would, therefore, be easily detected.

This article was written with files used from the Red Deer RCMP.