Thousands of pills, $ 15K seized at home

Red Deer man faces charges in drug trafficking investigation

A Red Deer man is facing a number of charges after officers seized more than 10,000 prescription pills and more than $ 15,000 cash at his home.

Members of the Red Deer City RCMP’s priority crimes task force launched a drug trafficking investigation in early June after receiving public information about suspicious activity at a home, said Sgt. Eric McKenzie.

Officers arrested the man during a traffic stop in the parking lot of the Port O’Call Mall in downtown Red Deer at about noon on June 17.

At the same time, police executed a search warrant at his home and garage on Wells Street and on two vehicles associated with the man.

During the searches, police discovered a variety of prescription medicine, including opioids, anticonvulsants, anti- depressants, muscle relaxants, laxatives, antiinflammatory medicine and sedatives, McKenzie said.

“He was ( allegedly) trafficking them, selling them on the street,” he added.

“He had a variety of packaging methods. He had some drugs in bottles ready for sale. It was almost like a drugstore, with shelves full.

“This is the largest seizure of this type in quite some time, if ever.”

McKenzie said there is an ongoing investigation into how the man was able to obtain so much prescribed medicine, most of it in his name, and whether he was “doctor- shopping.”

“Obviously, he got way more than he could ever need or use.”

McKenzie said prescription medication is often viewed as being a safer drug to abuse because it’s prescribed by a doctor and the dosage is regulated because it comes from a pharmacy.

“Unfortunately, it still results in overdoses and deaths,” he added.

Allie Gader, 56, of Red Deer, was charged with four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, and one count of possession of property obtained by crime over $ 5,000.

McKenzie said Gader, who was previously known to police, appeared in court on June 18 and was scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday in Red Deer.