Medicine Hat… Three men have been arrested after an Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) investigation uncovered a hash oil extraction lab operating in Brooks, Alta. Cocaine was also seized in the investigation.
ALERT Medicine Hat, an integrated team consisting of Medicine Hat Police Service and RCMP members, shutdown the hash oil extraction lab on March 20. The lab was located inside a Brooks neighbourhood home and was using butane gas to manufacture hash oil.
Hash oil is made using the byproduct of a marihuana plant, with the leaves and stems being soaked in butane gas or isopropyl alcohol to extract the potent cannabinoid-containing resin. The process is very dangerous and has led to several explosions and fires across the province. The demand for hash oil is attributed to the proliferation of electronic cigarettes.
Inside the Brooks home, ALERT seized a number of butane canisters and various equipment used in the extraction process. A total of $38,000 worth of drugs was also seized, including:
Three people were arrested and are facing drug-related charges:
If you suspect a hash oil extraction lab operating in your community, contact police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
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.
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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.
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