Drug investigation leads to charges against two Lethbridge residents

August 19, 2013

Lethbridge…ALERT’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-Lethbridge) wrapped up a drug trafficking investigation with charges against two men and the seizure of over $30,000 in drugs.

CFSEU-Lethbridge is an integrated team of Lethbridge Regional Police Service (LRPS) members and RCMP who work together to address organized crime in the community. On August 15, CFSEU-Lethbridge stopped a vehicle in a parking lot in the 3700 block of Mayor Magrath Drive South. Two men were arrested on scene and police seized nearly 21 grams of cocaine and approximately $1,755.

With assistance from the LRPS Community Policing Division, the team then followed up with a search warrant at a residence in the 1800 block of 14 Avenue South. CFSEU-Lethbridge located an additional 256.4 grams of cocaine, 791.9 grams of marihuana, drug trafficking paraphernalia, and $7,210 cash.

The approximate street value of the cocaine is over $27,000, while the marihuana has an estimated street value of nearly $8,000.

As a result, two Lethbridge men are charged:

• Tony Van Quang Tran, age 24, is charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, and one count of possession of proceeds under $5,000. His next court appearance is today, August 19, in Lethbridge Provincial Court.
• Chad Parkins, age 36, is charged with one count of possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000 and was released on conditions to appear in Lethbridge Provincial Court on August 23.

ALERT was established by the Government of Alberta to bring together the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources to tackle serious and organized crime. Nearly 400 municipal police, RCMP and sheriffs work for ALERT.

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Media inquiries may be directed to:
Staff Sergeant Wes Houston
CFSEU-Lethbridge
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
403-330-5061

Jill Baird
Communications
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
780-509-3028