By Sam Borsato - @BorsatoSam on Twitter

Three charged in city’s biggest seizure, more than $1M in drugs, firearms, cash

Feb 14, 2017 | 2:20 PM

LETHBRIDGE – “This reinforces the message that we will not sit idly by and let drug traffickers harm our community,” noted Lethbridge Police Chief Rob Davis proudly, after his team helped in what is believed to be the city’s largest ever drug seizure.

Police confirmed during a news conference on Wednesday (Feb. 15), that the ALERT organized crime and gang team investigation began back in December. They received information that a group of suspected drug dealers were operating within the city.
 
On Saturday (Feb. 11), a vehicle, which was allegedly returning from the British Columbia lower mainland, was stopped on Highway 3, just outside of Lethbridge. A search found four kilograms of cannabis resin inside a hidden compartment.
 
As a result, search warrants were then conducted at four Lethbridge homes, located along the 200-block of Ryerson Road West, 200-block of Lasalle Terrace West, 0-block of Modesto Road West and 800-block of 11 Street North.

The following drugs were taken from all four locations, with an estimated street value of more than $1.2-million:

– 8,054 ecstasy pills;
– 546 grams of cocaine;
– 305 grams of methamphetamine;
– 20.9 kilograms of marijuana;
– 4.5 kilograms of cannabis resin;
– 9 kilograms of psilocybin mushrooms;
– 1,605 tabs of LSD;
– 1,575 Xanax pills.

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ALERT also seized $120,000 in cash, along with four vehicles, including a Jeep Cherokee, Dodge Ram, Audi A4 and Chevrolet Impala. The combined value of the vehicles is an estimated $140,000, which will be referred to civil forfeiture.
 
Staff Sergeant Jason Walper explained that this was a highly sophisticated operation, noting that they came across a marijuana dryer and extractor.
 
“We did see some machinery here that is consistent with the manufacturing of illegal drugs… In this case, we believe it was used for manufacturing the cannabis resin… We have not actually seized one of these here in Lethbridge in history.”
Three people have been charged with 23 offences so far:

– Drew Boake, 27, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking (x 8) and possession of proceeds of crime;
– Alexander Herbert, 29, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking (x 10) and possession of proceeds of crime;
– Katlyn Robinson, 23, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking (x 2) and possession of proceeds of crime.

 Robinson was released on $1000 bail in court Wednesday (Feb. 15) morning. The other two are scheduled to be back on Thursday (Feb. 16) for bail hearings.
 
Chief Davis and Sergeant Walper made sure to express their gratitude for ALERT’s hard work. Davis noted in particular, “We are tenacious. We are going to continue to focus on investigations that will have an impact in our backyard, and throughout Alberta.”