Large amount of drugs, firearms seized from Red Deer home

Red Deer… Five firearms were seized alongside nearly a quarter million dollars’ in drugs and cash after a Red Deer home was searched.

ALERT Red Deer’s organized crime team searched the home on May 23, 2024 with help from Red Deer RCMP. The home, located in the Eastview neighbourhood, contained a large amount of drugs and firearms with five suspects being arrested.

“None of these firearms were lawfully possessed and are instruments of the drug trade. There’s an inherent violence with drug trafficking that threatens all of our safety,” said Insp. Brad Lundeen, ALERT Regional.

The drugs seized have an estimated street value of $220,000 and include:

• Five firearms;
• 670 grams of cocaine;
• 336 grams of MDMA;
• 90 grams of methamphetamine;
• 76 suspected methamphetamine pills;
• 71 opioid pills;
• 494 illicit prescription pills;
• 4.4 litres of GHB;
• 1,313 grams of cannabis;
• $96,440 cash.

One of the firearms, a loaded 40-caliber handgun, had previously been reported as stolen. Two of the firearms also had their serial number tampered. The seized firearms will be sent to ALERT’s Provincial Firearms Solutions Lab for ballistics testing and analysis.

Five suspects, ranging in age from 32 to 51 years old, were arrested but charges have yet to been laid. The investigation remains ongoing as investigators prepare reports and disclosure for Crown Counsel.

ALERT’s investigation began in January 2024 in response to drug trafficking in the Red Deer area.

Members of the public who suspect drug or gang activity in their community can call local police, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is always anonymous.

ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime.