Two Arrested in Lethbridge Drug Bust

2019| Lethbridge| News Releases| Organized Crime & Gangs

Lethbridge… Two people have been arrested and more than $16,000 worth of drugs and cash have been seized as part of a short-term ALERT investigation in Lethbridge.

On February 8, 2019, with assistance from Lethbridge Police Service, ALERT’s Lethbridge [alert-tooltip title=”ALERT has organized crime and gang teams based in seven cities across Alberta. Click for more info.”]organized crime and gang team[/alert-tooltip] executed a search warrant at a residence in west Lethbridge. The warrant resulted in the seizure of more than $10,500 worth of drugs, along with nearly $5,500 in cash proceeds of crime and a set of brass knuckles.

Drugs seized include:

98.8 grams of [alert-tooltip title=”Cocaine is a powerful, addictive drug derived from the leaves of coca plants, which are native to parts of South America. Click for more info.”]cocaine[/alert-tooltip];
20.4 grams of [alert-tooltip title=”Psilocybin is one of the hallucinogenic drugs contained in certain types of mushrooms – hence the name “magic mushrooms.” Click for more info.”]psilocybin[/alert-tooltip] mushrooms;
11 Oxycodone tablets;
12 tablets of [alert-tooltip title=”MDMA, also known as ecstasy, was first developed by a German pharmaceutical company in 1912. It was intended as a parent compound to synthesize medications that would control bleeding. Click for more info.”]MDMA[/alert-tooltip]; and
one tablet of LSD.

“This investigation began in January 2019, so we were able to prevent a variety of drugs from hitting the streets in a short amount of time,” said Staff Sgt. Leon Borbandy, ALERT Lethbridge. “This quick action speaks to ALERT’s commitment to working with local police to make communities like Lethbridge safer.”

Susan Graf, 54, was charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (x3); possession of a controlled substance; possession of proceeds of crime; and possession of a prohibited weapon.

John Hodgson, 42, was charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

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-tooltip title=”More than 300 municipal police and RCMP officers work together in teams at ALERT to investigate everything from drug trafficking to child exploitation to gang violence. Click for more info.”]ALERT[/alert-tooltip] 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 Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service, Medicine Hat Police Service, and RCMP work in ALERT.