Crack Cookhouse Operating in Lethbridge Apartment

Lethbridge…Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) has raided a Lethbridge apartment suite that was being used to manufacture crack cocaine.

ALERT Lethbridge, an integrated team comprised of Lethbridge Regional Police Service and RCMP members, searched the apartment suite on Lakemount Boulevard South on May 27. Investigators seized nearly $23,000 worth of crack cocaine that was packaged for street-level sales.

Crack is made by dissolving cocaine powder and boiling it in a mixture of water and ammonia or baking soda. Once cooled into a solid substance, it forms into small pieces often referred to as “rocks”. Crack is often smoked and is highly addictive.

The following items were seized as result of the ALERT search warrant:

• 229 grams of crack cocaine;
• 75 grams of a buffing agent;
• $3,065 in cash proceeds of crime;
• Cooking glassware used in crack production.

The investigation began in early April after ALERT received information about a Lethbridge crack supplier. The target of the investigation, Abdirahman Warsame, 24, was arrested inside the apartment at the time of the search.

Warsame has been charged with:

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking;
• Production of a controlled substance;
• Possession of proceeds of crime;
• Possession of a controlled substance.

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-