ALERT Seizes Drugs, Sawed-off Shotgun in Grande Prairie

Grande Prairie| Organized Crime & Gangs

Grande Prairie…A short-term investigation by Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) has led to drug and weapons charges against three Grande Prairie residents.

ALERT Grande Prairie, with the assistance of local RCMP members, executed a search warrant at a southeast Grande Prairie home on April 17. ALERT seized a loaded sawed-off shotgun, nearly $30,000 worth of drugs, and further evidence to suggest drug trafficking.

As result of the search warrant, ALERT seized:

216 grams of cocaine;
22 fentanyl pills;
27 illicit prescription pills;
33 grams of methamphetamine;
Cocaine press;
Loaded, sawed-off shotgun;
$2,010 in cash proceeds of crime;

Blaze Vongrad, 28, Cody Lypowich, 25, Erin McDonald, 25, are facing numerous charges, including possession for the purpose of trafficking (x 3), possession of proceeds of crime, possession of a prohibited firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a loaded firearm, and careless storage of a firearm.

The accused are scheduled to appear in court on April 22.

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. Members of Alberta Sheriffs, Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Lethbridge Regional Police Service, Medicine Hat Police Service, and RCMP work in ALERT.

-30-

Report A Crime

The work we do is about our communities, and that’s why we recognize that residents can be instrumental in tackling serious crime. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a crime, or you suspect criminal activity, please reach out. Your information will remain strictly confidential.

Thank you for helping to make Alberta safer by being actively involved and reporting suspicious activity.