Four charged with drug trafficking offences
City police have charged four men with trafficking offences following a short-term investigation.
Police say that on Feb. 1 members of the Crime Suppression team working in partnership with the Lethbridge-based Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods unit observed activity consisted with drug trafficking while conducting an investigation.
A man was arrested following a targeted traffic stop and police seized about 162 grams of fentanyl, seven grams of methamphetamine and nearly eight grams of cocaine along with $300 cash proceeds of crime.
Police located a second vehicle in a southside parking lot and arrested three additional males, seizing 30 narcotic pills, nearly 29 grams of cocaine, 12 grams of fentanyl, 67 grams of methamphetamine and buffing agent along with $1,020 cash proceeds of crime.
A search warrant was later obtained for a local hotel room, resulting in the further seizure of nearly 616 grams of cocaine, 18 grams of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia and approximately $28,000 cash proceeds of crime.
The total estimated street value of all the drugs seized is over $100,000.
Zachary Tracyn Randolf Bottle, 26, of Fort Macleod, is charged with four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime and breach of a conditional sentence order. Bottle is remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in court today.
Edward Alexander Goodrich, 53, of Granum, is charged with four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime. Goodrich was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 23.
Marty Lee Fransen, 49, of Lethbridge, is charged with three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime. Fransen was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in court today.
Charles Edward Sitek, 30, of Calgary, is charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime. Sitek was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 14.