LETHBRIDGE, AB. – Ten firearms and nearly a quarter million dollars’ worth of drugs, cash, and vehicles were seized following a series of search warrants in Lethbridge.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) raided five homes in the city and arrested five suspected drug dealers.
ALERT Lethbridge’s organized crime team concluded a lengthy drug trafficking investigation last Thursday (Jan. 21) Lethbridge Police Service helped with the searches and arrests.
“Organized crime harms our communities, and drug trafficking breeds violence, addiction, and ancillary crimes. This investigation is further testament to ALERT’s success in working alongside our partner agencies to disrupt and dismantle organized crime,” said Supt. Dwayne Lakusta, ALERT CEO.
ALERT alleges the group was supplying drugs throughout Lethbridge and surrounding communities.
The investigation began in March 2020 and culminated with simultaneous search warrants at homes in the Lethbridge neighbourhoods of Sixmile, Uplands, The Crossings, Legacy Ridge, and Fairmont. In total, ALERT seized:
- Ten firearms;
- 306 grams of cocaine;
- 39 grams of ketamine;
- 188 grams of psilocybin mushrooms;
- 36 milliliters of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB);
- 826 tabs of LSD;
- Four vehicles; and
- $159,000 cash.
The seized firearms, which included a prohibited handgun, two shotguns, and seven rifles, will be subject of forensic analysis. The cash and vehicles will be submitted to the provincial civil forfeiture office for review.
Five suspects face a total of 19 charges related to drug and firearms offences:
- Kevin Coady, 32 year old man from Lethbridge;
- Kristopher Hironaka, 26 year old man from Lethbridge;
- Josh Barreira, 29 year old man from Lethbridge;
- Thane Dahlseide, 25 year old man from Lethbridge; and
- Willie Tailfeathers, 25 year old man from Lethbridge.
(Information credit to ALERT)