Police charge four males with drug trafficking offences

MEDIA RELEASE

Lethbridge Police have charged four males with drug trafficking offences following a short-term investigation.

On February 1 members of the Crime Suppression Team, working in partnership with the Alberta Sheriffs Lethbridge-based Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) unit, were conducting an investigation and observed activity consistent with drug trafficking. A male was arrested following a targeted traffic stop and police seized approximately 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.

In total, the 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 February 8.

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 February 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 Feb. 8

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.