City’s largest drug seizure realized in Red Deer

2023| Red Deer

Red Deer… More than $2 million worth of drugs and cash has been seized in Red Deer. The seizure is believed to be the city’s largest with large amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine seized along with nine firearms.

ALERT Red Deer’s organized crime team made the seizure on October 19, 2023 after a home on the city’s north side was searched. Red Deer RCMP helped with the execution of the search warrant.

The drugs seized have an estimated street value of $2.2 million and included:

6.8 kilograms of fentanyl;
6.5 kilograms of methamphetamine;
0.4 kilograms of cocaine;
1.9 litres of GHB;
$17,286 cash.

ALERT also seized nine firearms, including two handguns, four rifles, and three shotguns. Eight of the firearms were found loaded with ammunition and several others were sawed-off, had their serial numbers defaced, or previously reported as stolen. ALERT also seized more than 20,000 rounds of ammunition and body armour.

ALERT will also be pursuing civil forfeiture against seized cash, silver bars, collectable coins, and three high-end electric scooters. The scooters were allegedly being used to facilitate the accused’s drug trafficking operations.

One person has been charged; Delmond Kroetsch was arrested shortly after investigators witnessed a suspected drug deal that took place in the downtown area. The 43-year-old man’s home in the Fairview neighbourhood was searched following the arrest.

Kroetsch has been charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime, and 28 firearms-related offences. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court on December 4, 2023.

Kroetsch was not in lawful possession of the firearms and has a firearms prohibition stemming from a Fort McMurray investigation in 2002.

Red Deer’s largest known drug seizure previously occurred in March 2019. The RCMP-led investigation resulted in the seizure of 1.6 kilograms of cocaine, 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl, and 2.6 kilograms of methamphetamine, amongst other drugs.

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.