Million-dollar drug seizure realized in Lethbridge

Lethbridge… Over $1 million worth of drugs and cash has been seized in Lethbridge. The seizure is believed to be one of the city’s largest and features record amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine.

ALERT Lethbridge’s organized crime team made the seizure on December 20, 2022, after searching two homes and two vehicles, with help from Lethbridge Police Service.

The drugs seized have an estimated street value of just over $1 million and included:

• 5.2 kilograms of methamphetamine;
• 3.2 kilograms of cocaine;
• 1.6 kilograms of fentanyl powder;
• 418 grams of ketamine;
• 35 grams of psilocybin mushrooms; and
• $79,000 cash.

ALERT also seized four firearms. One of the firearms was a prohibited sawed-off shotgun, and another was a loaded handgun that had been previously reported stolen from Redcliff, Alta.

One person was arrested upon search warrant executions. One of the homes was located in the London Road area, and the other location was a garage in the neighbourhood of Winston Churchill. The two vehicles that were searched were also seized.

Patrick Rodney, 34 years old, has been charged with the following offences:

• Possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking;
• Possession of property obtained by crime;
• Unlawful storage of a firearm;
• Possession of a weapon dangerous to the public;
• Knowingly possessing an unauthorized firearm;
• Knowingly possessing a prohibited weapon;
• Possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition;
• Possession of a firearm obtained by crime;
• Possession of a firearm contrary to prohibition; and
• Breach of probation.

Rodney is currently bound by a firearms prohibition. He was previously investigated and charged by ALERT in August 2014. He remains in custody and his next scheduled court appearance is on January 26, 2023.

ALERT began investigating Rodney in October 2022 after receiving information about his suspected drug trafficking activity.

Lethbridge’s largest known drug seizure previously occurred in February 2017 when ALERT and LPS seized $1.2 million of drugs. That seizure primarily featured the seizure of ecstasy pills, cannabis, and psilocybin mushrooms.

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.