By Geoff Smith (@smithco on Twitter) // Sam Borsato (@BorsatoSam on Twitter)

Fentanyl, loaded gun seized by police

Oct 26, 2016 | 8:49 AM

LETHBRIDGE – Nearly 800 deadly Fentanyl pills have been taken off the streets, in a pair of unrelated investigations in the past week.

Lethbridge’s Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) says 193 pills were found on October 13 in a search of two homes and two vehicles in the city. The raids also led to the seizures of 24 g of cocaine, $3,400 in cash, and a loaded Smith and Wesson handgun.

An alleged member of the Mad Cowz gang, 29-year-old Corey Amyotte from Manitoba, was arrested along with two other suspects, Ali Zalfo also of Manitoba, 22, and Jerry Bull from Calgary, 33. The three face a combined 32 drug and firearm charges.

Staff Sergeant Rod Klassen says that case is now concluded, and no additional charges are expected.

A week later, on October 20, a vehicle stop at Aldersyde, 40 km south of Calgary, led to the seizure of 584 pills. Police believe that vehicle was bound for Lethbridge.

Two suspects, identified as William Hatch, 33, and Awet Abraha, 28, both from Lethbridge, face a total of six drug-related charges.

Klassen noted more charges are possible for Abraha who is already awaiting a sentence on other, unrelated drug offences.

In both cases, police believe the pills were being supplied by groups in either Calgary or Edmonton, and were destined to be sold across Lethbridge and the Blood Indian Reserve.

“As long as there’s a demand for this pill, there’s going to be a supply,” Klassen said.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

The estimated street value of the two seizures combined is just under $35,000.

“Any time we take any amount of fentanyl off the street, it’s quite possible that any one of these pills are a deadly pill. We’ve possibly saved some lives, and the more we can do this, the better off our communities will be.”

by Geoff Smith (@smithco on Twitter) // Sam Borsato (@BorsatoSam on Twitter)

Fentanyl, loaded gun seized by police

What's Happening