Fentanyl seized in busts
777 pills as well as cash, handgun seized by ALERT
Police seized nearly $35,000 in drugs, including 777 fentanyl pills, and five people have been charged following two separate drug busts in the past week.
On Oct. 13, members of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams seized 193 fentanyl pills after searching two homes and two vehicles in Lethbridge.
In addition to the fentanyl, police seized 24 grams of cocaine, $3,400 as proceeds of crime and a loaded Smith and Wesson handgun.
Police arrested three men, including alleged Mad Cowz gang member Corey Amyotte, 29, and associates Ali Zalfo, 22, both from Manitoba, and Jerry Bull, 33, from Calgary.
The three men are facing a total of 32 charges relating to drugs and firearms offences.
“We believe that group was actively selling fentanyl to our city, to southern Alberta, as well as the Blood Tribe Reserve,” said ALERT Staff Sgt. Rod Klassen. “Very significant that way. Of note in that file was the loaded handgun we found in the vehicle. It just shows the level of violence that these people are capable of.”
The second fentanyl seizure took place on Oct. 20 when a vehicle stop was conducted in Aldersyde, located approximately 40 kilometres south of Calgary.
A total of 584 fentanyl pills were found in a vehicle that police allege was destined for Lethbridge.
William Hatch, 33, and Awet Abraha, 28, were arrested and charged with six drug-related offences.
Klassen said it is significant any time fentanyl is taken off the streets.
“Any time we take any amount of fentanyl off the street, it’s quite possible that any one of these pills are a deadly pill, as everyone knows by now. So we’ve possibly saved some lives in that case. The more we can do this, the better off our communities will be.”
Klassen said the pills will sell for about $40 each on the street, and about $60 on the Blood Reserve.
“This drug is a huge problem,” he said. “It’s very addictive. Once people get hooked on it, it’s very hard to get off. They get sick when they try to get off and they need that drug. So as long as there is a demand for this pill, there’s going to be a supply.”
Members of the public who suspect drug or gang activity in their community can call local police, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is always anonymous.
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