One of the largest weapons seizures in Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams’ history has uncovered two dozen firearms, nearly 200 knives and other edged weapons that investigators believe had been exchanged in the drug trade.
Members of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams’ organized crime unit executed a search warrant at a north Lethbridge home on July 15 with assistance from the Lethbridge Police Service, police said.
Police said the investigation began after officers received reports of suspected drug trafficking at the home in June.
The seizure included 19 rifles, three shotguns, one handgun, nine replica firearms, 12 prohibited weapons, about 170 knives and edged weapons, two body armour vests and 4,700 rounds of ammunition.
Among the edged weapons were switchblades, swords, nunchakus, collapsible batons, brass knuckles and claw-style weapons resembling those used by the fictional horror character Freddy Krueger.
Police also seized 53 grams of cocaine, 41 grams of methamphetamine, 538 fentanyl and oxycodone pills, 113 tabs of LSD and 20 cartons of contraband tobacco products.
Police said investigators determined none of the firearms had been legally possessed.
ALERT is working with the RCMP’s National Weapons Enforcement Support Team to trace the origin of the firearms. Investigators have confirmed one firearm had previously been reported stolen in Brooks, Alta.
Two people were arrested following the search. One person faces drug, firearms, body armour and tobacco-related charges. Police said that individual was already subject to a lifetime firearms prohibition because of previous convictions. The second person faces a charge of drug possession.
In a statement ALERT Staff Sgt. Trevor Sheppard said, “The drug trade is inherently violent and unpredictable. A huge weapons cache such as this demonstrates an unwelcome danger to our community.”
Police described the cache as one of the largest weapons seizures in ALERT’s history and said investigators believe many of the weapons had been accepted as payment in exchange for drugs.
The charges have not been tested in court.
ALERT said the investigation into the source of the firearms is continuing.
