ALERT and RCMP Strathcona County Team Up on Drug Raids

Edmonton… ALERT and RCMP Strathcona County collaborated to search seven homes in the Edmonton area and arrest four suspected drug dealers.

ALERT Edmonton, an integrated team consisting of Edmonton Police Service, RCMP, and Alberta Sheriffs, seized roughly $170,000 worth of cash and drugs, a handgun, and a thousand rounds of ammunition.

The seizures took place on March 1. Seven homes in Edmonton were searched and resulted in the seizure of the following items:

• Loaded Walther P38 handgun;
• Thousands rounds of various caliber ammunition;
• 300 grams of cocaine;
• 20 kilograms of a cocaine buffing agent;
• 18 grams of psilocybin;
• 14 Oxycodone pills;
• 9 MDMA pills;
• Packaging, scales, and other drug trafficking paraphernalia;
• $95,000 cash proceeds of crime.

No arrests were made at the time of the search warrants being carried out. The investigation continued and on March 29, four suspects surrendered themselves to police. The accused were charged with a total of 32 criminal offences related to drugs and firearms.

• Mark Agar, 38;
• Sean McDermott, 38;
• Harrold Denny, 36;
• Jonathon Pederson, 34.

“The size and scope of this investigation is yet another prime example of different police agencies working collaboratively in targeting drug crime in our communities.” said Superintendent Gary Peck, Officer in Charge of the Strathcona County RCMP. “Our officers were fully engaged from the onset of this investigation and will continue to aggressively  target those individuals harming our community by being involved in illicit drug crime.”

ALERT and RCMP Strathcona County launched the investigation in January after receiving information that the group was involved in drug trafficking in the Edmonton area.