Red Deer City RCMP have seized more than $60,000 worth of drugs, $65,000 in cash and eight firearms from two homes in Red Deer and a storage unit in Edmonton.
The seizure resulted in a total of more than 30 charges against three Red Deer adults and two youths on Tuesday as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation.
Red Deer City RCMP say at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a vehicle related to the Red Deer investigation was spotted in a Edmonton residential area. Red Deer City RCMP plainclothes officers arrested the three Red Deer occupants in the vehicle without incident.
Three people were taken into police custody with help from the Edmonton Police Service and later taken to Red Deer.
The officers also seized $60,000 from the vehicle.
In North Red Deer, around 5:15 p.m. the same day, another vehicle related to the investigation left a residence in the Jamieson Avenue area of Johnstone Park. RCMP officers stopped the vehicle as part of a traffic stop. The occupants were two Red Deer youth who were arrested without incident.
At 7 p.m. the RCMP returned to the residence and arrested a 19-year-old without incident. Later that evening, two other occupants returned to the residence and were subsequently arrested.
After obtaining search warrants, the RCMP searched an Edmonton storage unit and 31 Jamieson Ave. in Red Deer.
From the two searches, the RCMP seized quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, drug and trafficking paraphernalia; eight firearms including six handguns, one Mac-8 machine gun and one rifle. One firearm was previously reported stolen.
Raed Abdulla, 29, of no fixed address, is charged with one count of trafficking a controlled substance; one count of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking; two counts of possession of property obtained by crime; one count of instructing offence for a criminal organization; five counts of tampering with a serial number; seven counts of careless use of a firearm; seven counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm; three counts of possession of loaded firearm without registration certificate/licence; two counts of possession of firearm without registration on certificate/licence and one count of possession of weapon obtained by crime.
Abdulla is to appear in Red Deer provincial court on Thursday.
Ahmed Nur, 28, of Red Deer faces similar charges, including an additional count of possession of firearm without registration certificate/licence. Nur will appear in Red Deer provincial court on today.
Chris Hernberg, 19, of Red Deer is charged with one count of trafficking a controlled substance and one count of commission of an offence for a criminal organization. He will appear in Red Deer provincial court on Tuesday.
RCMP say when two or more people are working together criminally they are considered to be part of a criminal organization. The three charged individuals are not believed to be part of a large criminal organization.
A 17-year-old male youth, who cannot be named due to the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has been charged with one count of trafficking a controlled substance; one count of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking; two counts of possession of a controlled substance; one count of possession of property obtained by crime; one count of commission of an offence for a criminal organization and one count of failure to comply with probation order. The youth was set to appear in court Thursday.
A 16-year-old male youth has been charged with one count of trafficking a controlled substance; one count of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking; two counts of possession of a controlled substance; one count of possession of property obtained by crime and one count of commission of an offence for a criminal organization. The youth was to appear in court Thursday.
All charged individuals remain in police custody.
Anyone with information is asked to call Red Deer City RCMP at 403-343-5575.