ALERT targets drug trafficking network in Westlock, St. Albert area

February 17, 2012

Eight people charged with trafficking cocaine, meth, marihuana, and prescription drugs

Edmonton… ALERT‘s Edmonton Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU),  an integrated team of Edmonton Police Service and RCMP members, with the assistance of Westlock and St. Albert RCMP detachments, recently shut down an alleged drug trafficking network believed to be operating in the communities of Westlock and St. Albert.

ALERT’s investigation led to the execution of four search warrants; one for a residence in St. Albert and three for residences in Westlock. Together, the searches yielded 10 grams of cocaine, 2 grams of methamphetamine, 977 grams of marihuana, and more than 500 tablets of four different prescription medications.  Investigators also found a .357 Magnum handgun with 54 rounds of ammunition, nunchuks, brass knuckles, drug trafficking paraphernalia, and nearly $9,000 cash.

Five men and two women were arrested and charged with 36 Controlled Drugs and Substance Act and Criminal Code offences.

These arrests follow other recent similar operations by ALERT conducted in the St. Paul, Brooks and Redcliff areas.

“These groups should be on notice that we don’t just operate in the big cities,” commented Staff Sergeant Jim Peebles of the Edmonton CFSEU. “We also work with rural RCMP detachments throughout the province to target and shut-down organizations supplying drugs to their communities.”

Arrested and charged are:

• St. Albert resident, Philip Dale Rombough, age 45, on six counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of a restricted firearm, careless storage of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a license, and possession of proceeds of crime;
• St. Albert resident, Aaron Deblois, age 37, on possession for the purpose of trafficking;
• Westlock resident, Darryl Smith, age 53, on two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime;
• Westlock resident, Wayne Schmidt, age 50, on two counts of possession of a controlled substance and two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking;
• Westlock resident, Jeremy Schmidt, age 18, on two counts of possession of a controlled substance and three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking;
• Westlock resident, Karen Wilson, age 53, on two counts of possession of a controlled substance and three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking;
• Westlock resident, Savauna Ziehe, age 19, on three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and four counts of breach of recognizance;

An arrest warrant has also been issued for an eighth suspect; a female, Westlock resident.

CFSEU-Edmonton is an ALERT team established and funded by the Government of Alberta to bring together the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources and tools to combat organized crime.  Over 400 municipal police, RCMP, and sheriffs work for ALERT.

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Media inquiries may be directed to:
S/Sgt Jim Peebles
CFSEU-Edmonton
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams
Ph: 780-509-3098

Candace Cook
Communications
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams
Ph: 780-509-3015

Cpl. David Casey
Westlock RCMP Detachment
Ph: 780-349-4492

Cpl. Laurel Kading
St. Albert RCMP Detachment
Ph: 780-45804300