Mayor Tara Veer and Red Deer RCMP Supt. Gerald Grobmeier listen as Sgt. Paul Glanville speaks regarding a large drug trafficking bust. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By rdnewsNOW staff

updated story: six arrested

Central Alberta Mounties make major drug bust

Dec 11, 2019 | 3:29 PM

Six people face a total of 39 charges after local Mounties busted a drug trafficking operation between the Red Deer area and B.C.

An investigation started by the Red Deer RCMP General Investigation Section on Sept. 17 was assisted by members from Sylvan Lake and Blackfalds detachments.

Sgt. Paul Glanville with Red Deer RCMP said Thursday, “That investigation led to identifying an individual who was travelling between Red Deer and Lower Mainland in B.C. and ultimately was transporting large amounts of drugs from the Lower Mainland to Red Deer and central Alberta for distribution.”

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On November 26, search warrants were executed at one property in Red Deer, one property in Blackfalds, and one property in Sylvan Lake. Red Deer ALERT assisted in the searches. As a result of the search warrants, police seized:

• 1351.4 grams of a substance believed to be cocaine

• 353.2 grams of a substance believed to be methamphetamine

• 312.8 grams of a substance believed to be fentanyl

• A large sum of Canadian cash

• 2 firearms

• Packaging consistent with high level drug trafficking

• 5 vehicles, one which contained a hidden compartment utilized in transporting drugs from the lower mainland, British Columbia, to Red Deer and surrounding areas.

(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

“The amount of illegal materials our GIS unit captured during this investigation is significant,” said Red Deer RCMP Supt. Gerald Grobmeier.

“It is important to note that this investigation would not have been as successful without the seamless collaboration between our GIS department and the RCMP detachments in Blackfalds and Sylvan Lake. We are showing drug traffickers that the Red Deer RCMP along with its partners in Central Alberta will continue to work in collaboration to mitigate illegal activity.”

Charges were originally laid against:

• A 38-year-old man from Grande Prairie (All charges stayed in May 2021)

• A 33-year-old man from Cold Lake (All charges stayed in October 2020)

• A 32-year-old man from Medicine Hat (All charges stayed in May 2021)

• A 33-year-old man from Surrey B.C. (All charges stayed in August 2021)

Sentenced:

• Shawna Lori Willier (29) of Edmonton (five of six charges withdrawn in May 2022, sentenced on one count of Possession of Property-Over $5,000 to Conditional Sentence of 2 years, plus 1 year of probation)