Record drug bust suspects to have April hearing

Three people facing multiple charges following what police believe may be the largest-ever drug bust in Lethbridge won’t return to court for another month.

A hearing for the accused, Drew Daniel Boake, Alexandre Herbert and Katlyn Robinson, was held last week in Lethbridge provincial court but simply adjourned to April 25 at their lawyers’ request. None of the accused was required to attend the hearing.

ALERT, the organized crime and gang team, began an investigation in December after police received information about a group of suspected drug dealers operating in Lethbridge.

Police stopped a vehicle Feb. 11 on Highway 3 just outside the city as it was allegedly returning from the B.C. lower mainland. Found stashed inside a hidden compartment was four kilograms of cannabis resin.

After the traffic stop, search warrants were conducted at four homes located on Ryerson Road, Lasalle Terrace and Modesto Road West, and 11 Street North. Significant quantities of drugs were seized from all of the homes.

Police seized more than $1.2 million in drugs, firearms and proceeds of crime, calling it the largest drug bust in Lethbridge. Seized were 8,054 ecstasy pills, 546 grams of cocaine, 305 grams of methamphetamine, 20.9 kilograms of marijuana, 4.5 kilograms of cannabis resin, nine kilograms of psilocybin mushrooms, 1,605 tabs of LSD and 1,575 Xanax pills.

Police also seized four firearms, $120,000 cash proceeds of crime and four vehicles valued at $140,000. Equipment police believe was used to manufacture cannabis resin, including a marijuana dehydrator and an extractor, were also found, as well as a cash-counting machine and a radio jammer, which is used to disrupt police radio frequencies.

Boake, 27, is charged with nine counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possession of proceeds of crime. Herbert, 29, is charged with 10 counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possession of proceeds of crime. Robinson, 23, is charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, one count of possession of proceeds of crime and one count of drug possession.

During a previous court appearance, Robinson was released on $1,000 bail and ordered not to have any contact with the other two accused. She must also obey a curfew. Boake and Herbert were previously released on $10,000 bail with conditions, including they avoid any contact with each other and Robinson, report weekly to the police and obey a curfew.