Police in Lethbridge, including the ALERT Unit, have wrapped up a nine-month long drug investigation with the arrest of 21 people.
Officers believe everyone in the group is connected with a massive operation dealing in cocaine and marijuana.
The specialized unit began their investigation in November 2012 and executed several warrants starting in January to July 2013.
As a result of the warrants, 21 people are facing 84 charges.
Police also seized a hoard of items including:
- 1.8 kg of cocaine
- 587 grams of marijuana
- $17,225 in cash
- three firearms, including a stolen, sawed-off, 12 gauge shotgun
- body armour
- a number of cell phones
- an assortment of drug paraphernalia
Police believe the drugs to have a street value of nearly $180,000.
They have charged:
- Jade Little, 23-year-old female Lethbridge resident, with six counts of trafficking a controlled substance. Little was arrested and remanded in custody until her next court appearance on August 15.
- Awet Abaraha, 25-year-old male Lethbridge resident, with three counts of trafficking a controlled substance and three counts of breaching conditions of his recognizance. Abraha was released on bail until his next court appearance on October 3.
- Lindsey Ito, 36-year-old female Lethbridge resident, with one count of trafficking a controlled substance. Ito remains at large. A warrant for arrest has been obtained.
- Grace Mercier, 27-year-old female Lethbridge resident, with three counts of trafficking a controlled substance and three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking. Mercier remains at large. A warrant for arrest has been obtained.
- Chol Deng, 22-year-old male Calgary resident, with one count of trafficking a controlled substance and one count of breaching conditions of his recognizance. Deng remains at large. A warrant for arrest has been obtained.
- Jordan Maclean, 23-year-old male Lethbridge resident, with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, one count of possession of proceeds of crime, and one count of possession of ammunition when prohibited. Maclean’s next court appearance is August 8.
- Curtis Benson, 26-year-old male Lethbridge resident, with three counts of possession of a controlled substance. Benson’s next court appearance is August 8.
- Levi Duncan Reiter, 23-year-old male of Iron Springs, with resisting a peace officer. Reiter is remanded into custody and his next court appearance is August 9.
- Derek Scott Duckworth, 20-year-old male Lethbridge resident, with possession of a controlled substance. Duckworth’s next court appearance is August 8.
- Shane David Poole, 23-year-old male Lethbridge resident is charged with possession of a controlled substance. Poole has pled guilty and received a $300 fine.
- Tyler Joseph Podd, 25-year-old male Lethbridge resident, with possession of a controlled substance. Podd has pled guilty and received a $300 fine.
- Brady James Galts, 23-year-old male Lethbridge resident, with possession of a firearm obtained through the commission of an offence, possession of stolen property, possession of a prohibited device, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, unauthorized possession of a firearm, careless storage of a firearm, and careless use of a firearm. Galts’ next court appearance is August 23.
- Cody Fern Skinner, 26-year-old male Lethbridge resident, with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of marihuana, possession of proceeds of crime, failure to comply with a recognizance, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, and possession of a prohibited weapon. Skinner’s next court appearance is August 8.
Police also pressed charges against eight other people who’ve been arrested on previous occasions.
“This investigation has now secured charges against 21 people for trafficking drugs in our community,” Staff Sergeant Wes Houston of CFSEU-Lethbridge said in a release. “We are very pleased with these results, but we know that there are others waiting to move in and take over. Our work does not end here.”
