Red Deer RCMP seized cocaine, methamphetamine and paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking in two search warrants at a Riverside Meadows apartment building Tuesday, taking seven people into custody.
The searches were the culmination of a drug trafficking investigation by Red Deer RCMP General Investigations section that began on Jan. 10th and included a simultaneous search warrant on a Sylvan Lake residence Tuesday by Sylvan Lake and Red Deer RCMP; that search warrant resulted in RCMP seizing about 3lbs of marijuana and approximately $2,000 in cash as proceeds of crime, and taking two people into custody.
During the search warrants in Red Deer, RCMP officers discovered what appeared to be a homemade explosive device; they evacuated the building until the RCMP Explosives Disposal Unit could attend and render the device safe.
Two of the people taken into custody in Red Deer have since been released and RCMP continue to investigate.
Between the Red Deer and Sylvan Lake arrests, charges are pending against seven individuals; charges will vary among those arrested but will include drug possession, trafficking and charges related to the explosive device.
RCMP will issue an update with more details about the drugs seized, the names of those charged and details of the charges against them once those charges have been sworn before the courts.
If you have information about this or any drug trafficking investigation, contact the Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com. If your information leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward up to $2,000.
As mentioned, the RCMP evacuated residences in a portion of the Riverside Meadows neighbourhood after police officers located a suspicious item, which was drug related, while conducting a search warrant at a residence at 5813 53rd Ave.
Red Deer RCMP went door to door in the area, evacuating nearby residences and businesses as a precaution.
-Vaughan
