(rdnewsNOW)

By Sheldon Spackman

AK-47 rifle seized

Sentencing set for one of three charged in drug trafficking investigation

Dec 3, 2024 | 2:20 PM

Sentencing is set early next year for one of three people charged in a Red Deer drug trafficking investigation which turned up four firearms, including an AK-47 rifle.

Adrian Mollica Lazzaro, 42, is scheduled for sentencing in Red Deer Court of Justice on Jan. 14, 2025, following a preliminary hearing held last month.

Co-accused Nicholas James David Wales, 27, meanwhile, is scheduled for decision in Red Deer Court of Justice on Jan. 9, 2025.

A third co-accused, Brandon Caleb Robertson, 29, was ordered to stand trial following the conclusion of a preliminary hearing in Red Deer Sept. 6, 2024. His matter returns to court Jan. 24, 2025, for a pre-trial conference.

ALERT Red Deer’s organized crime team and the RCMP’s Central Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) say they collaborated on the year-long investigation, which concluded with arrests in late September 2023. Police say the investigation resulted in more than $325,000 worth of drugs being seized.

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The three people arrested included a suspect believed to have been responsible for an Innisfail Super 8 robbery that occurred on May 29, 2023, says ALERT.

Brandon Robertson was arrested for the robbery-related offences on June 6, 2023. ALERT alleges Robertson was also involved in drug trafficking, and despite his arrest, the investigation proceeded, and additional suspects were identified.

ALERT says three Red Deer homes were ultimately searched, resulting in a large amount of drugs and firearms being seized, including:

• AK-47 rifle with magazine;
• Three handguns and prohibited magazines;
• 1,573 grams of fentanyl;
• 78 grams of methamphetamine;
• 34 grams of cocaine;
• 265 grams of a cocaine buffing agent; and
• 32 oxycodone and morphine pills.

ALERT says the AK-47, which is banned in Canada, was seized from an apartment in the Clearview Ridge neighbourhood along with various amounts of ammunition. How the semi-automatic rifle was acquired was being further investigated. Meanwhile, one of the handguns seized was confirmed to have been previously stolen in the Vermilion, Alta. area, say officials with ALERT.

Brandon Robertson was charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime, numerous firearms offences, and failure to comply with release conditions.

Nicholas Wales was charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of an unauthorized firearm, and possession of an unauthorized device.

Adrian Lazzaro, meantime, was charged with possession of drugs 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 was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is described as a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime.

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