Huge drug bust of over $1 million by ALERT and LPS

Police say more than a million dollars’ worth of drugs and cash were seized in Lethbridge. ALERT and LPS held a press conference on Wednesday morning and officials say the huge bust took place December 20 involving two homes and two vehicles. Video Journalist Micah Quinn has the details.

The drugs seized have an estimated street value of just over $1 million and included:

• 5.2 kilograms of methamphetamine
• 3.2 kilograms of cocaine
• 1.6 kilograms of fentanyl powder
• 418 grams of ketamine
• 35 grams of psilocybin mushrooms
• $79,000 cash

ALERT also seized four firearms. One of them being a sawed-off shotgun, and another was a loaded handgun that had been previously reported stolen from Redcliff, Alberta.

Patrick Rodney has been charged with the following offences:

• Possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking
• Possession of property obtained by crime
• Unlawful storage of a firearm
• Possession of a weapon dangerous to the public
• Knowingly possessing an unauthorized firearm
• Knowingly possessing a prohibited weapon
• Possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition
• Possession of a firearm obtained by crime
• Possession of a firearm contrary to prohibition
• Breach of probation.

He remains in custody and his next scheduled court appearance is on January 26.

In February of 2017, our city’s biggest drug seizure happened when ALERT and LPS seized $1.2 million of drugs including ecstasy pills, cannabis, and psilocybin mushrooms.