Nearly two dozen firearms have been seized, and four people are facing more than one hundred charges following an ALERT investigation into suspected drug dealing in Whitecourt.
Investigators with ALERT Edmonton worked with RCMP in Whitecourt to carry out the two-month investigation – it ended on March 14.
Search warrants were carried out at a home in Whitecourt and a rural home in Woodland County.
As part of those searches, a total of 22 firearms were seized, along with more than $30,000 worth of drugs – 310 grams of cocaine, 77 Percocet pills, 119 methadone pills, a cocaine press, and $8,580 in cash proceeds of crime.
ALERT seized three handguns, three shotguns, and 16 rifles – none of those firearms were possessed legally.
It’s alleged that in at least three cases, the firearms had been legally purchased, before ending up with the suspected criminals.
Four individuals were arrested, and are facing a total of 122 charges related to drug and weapons offences, including firearms trafficking.
The accused have been identified as:
- Jeffrey Smith, 30, from Whitecourt – he is facing 29 charges
- Clayton Taylor, 23, from Woodland County – facing 45 charges
- Alyssa Leakvold, 25, from Woodland County – is facing 45 charges
- Dustin Jennings, 24, from Fort Assiniboine – facing three firearms trafficking charges
ALERT said this seizure is part of a “concerning” trend.
“We’ve talked a lot about the number of firearms we’re seeing across Alberta and when you see this type of arsenal in the hands of suspected cocaine dealers, it’s concerning for that community,” ALERT spokesperson Mike Tucker said.
“Sadly it is becoming more commonplace to find arsenals of this magnitude, years ago finding a gun in a drug bust was more of a rarity, definitely firearms are becoming more prevalent. This year alone ALERT is set to break a record for the amount of firearms we’ve seized.”
