ALBERTA'S LARGEST METH LAB BUSTED NEAR CREMONA

A tip from an alert real estate agent has led to what is believed to be
Alberta's largest methamphetamine lab being shut down, where over 20 pounds
of the toxic substance was seized and taken off the street.

Didsbury RCMP was contacted by a Sundre-based realtor, who then conducted
an investigation and once they felt they had enough grounds to move in they
obtained a search warrant and uncovered the large drug operation.

According to Edmonton based RCMP Cst. Al Fraser with the RCMP's media
relations department, methamphetamine is considered to be one of the most
highly addictive drugs that is out there, as well as probably the most
dangerous for one to take into their body.

"Crystal meth is an extremely addictive drug. It's something made through
chemistry. It's not something which takes a great deal of time to produce.
It's not like a marijuana grow operation where you have to plant the tree
and wait for it to mature and grow. That is not the case at all. It's
something that is mixed through various chemicals and the by products are
toxic. The production of it is very dangerous in the sense of the fumes
that one is using. There are things in there like rubbing alcohol, sodium
hydroxide, ether, ammonia, paint thinner and other lethal products," Fraser
said.

Twenty pounds of methamphetamine may not seem like a lot for those who
aren't used to how the product is used, but according to RCMP this is a
landslide drug bust and they are glad to get such a large amount off of the
streets and out of the hands of potential users.

"Because of the sheer amount of product that was seized, (20 pounds is) a
lot. If you look at what one hit of meth would be that a person would use
to get their little high, they don't need much. It would probably be about
the size of a little packet of sugar. So, in your mind, take what a 20
pound bag of kitty litter would look like from a comparison stand point,"
Fraser explained. "Normally, it's crystal form which is sold in small
quantities. It is injected or inhaled through fumes, where it would be
heated over something and then be inhaled. It's very, very addictive."

Fraser says that the RCMP are very, very shocked that Alberta's largest
meth bust was located in such a rural location, as most people think of
these types of operations to occur in large urban centres.

"This happened in small town Alberta where one wouldn't think for this to
happen. When you look at that area it's perceived as beautiful. Who would
think that there would be a crystal meth lab there?"

Fraser and other members of the RCMP are asking the public for their
assistance on busting other meth labs.

Fraser says that the by-products used to produce meth can be harmful to the
environment and local residents should watch for different things.

"Of concern is any by-product that is a result of the production of meth,"
he said. "If anyone in the area should notice any strange discoloration of
snow, soil or dead wildlife that is out of the norm - please contact the
Didsbury RCMP Detachment."

Last Wednesday when RCMP attended the rural farm located on the Carstairs
Blind Line Road, approximately a quarter mile from Highway 22, they were
assisted by other RCMP members from Calgary, Red Deer, and Edmonton Drug
Units along with the Clandestine Lab Enforcement and Response (CLEAR) Team
from Edmonton.

According to the RCMP these labs are extremely hazardous environments due
to the variety of chemical compounds often used during the manufacturing
process. In some cases exposure to these substances can be lethal.

At the meth operation approximately 200 pounds of red phosphorus was also
discovered. Red phosphorus is a very volatile substance which can cause
explosion and fire, which increases the dangers of these types of labs to
both the police and the public in the vicinity.

This operation was discovered to be run out of a large barn on the rural
location, just east of Highway 22 where the loft of the building had been
converted into the largest grow op ever uncovered in the province.

"The production opportunity of this loft was substantial," Fraser added.

Randall Oberik, broker of Water Valley's Cowboy Trail Reality, who was out
at the location showing the house on the property which is for sale, is the
man who needs to be credited for giving RCMP the tip.

"I visited the property because I have it listed," said Oberik. "Being a
licensed real estate agent, through the Alberta Real Estate Association, we
get training on things to look for as far as grow rooms. So this looked
liked a grow room to me."

Despite not spending much time at the barn location, Oberik said he still
felt something wasn't right so he contacted police.

"I probably wasn't in there for more than 20 seconds. There was a mezzanine
level on this building and it had been all sealed up and plywooded in. What
really aroused my suspicions was the fact that there was a large industrial
fan going on. It was kind of a fluke, freaky thing that I stumbled across
it and reported it as we all should. It turned out to be a big operation in
there apparently."

Mountain View County councillors were disappointed to hear about this bust,
saying it ruined the image of a safe community.

Mountain View County Reeve Al Kemmere said the bust is a blow to the
county's image as a safe community.

"We always think that our kids are protected living in the country, but
this hits pretty close to home," said Kemmere. "This is very disappointing
to have that related to the county, no doubt about it. I'm totally baffled
by it. I'm amazed this is going on in the county. You hear about it in
other areas but you never consider it to happen in your own county."

Mountain View County councillor Charles Van Arnam, whose riding includes
the site, said: "It is a huge surprise and a disappointment. It's a long
way from the RCMP detachment (at Didsbury), so obviously people see that as
an opportunity to take advantage of the situation."

However, the Village of Cremona's Mayor Ken Foreman didn't seem as shocked
as other politicians, saying it's disappointing but it's reality that the
area is in such close proximity to the city.

"The reality is we live within 60 minutes of Calgary, and Calgary's
influence is going to reach out," Foreman said. "If you're in an illegal
business, you've got a big potential market there to sell your product. We
shouldn't be surprised that someone would pick a quiet little place like
Cremona."

"Nobody wants to see organized crime in their community, but it doesn't
matter where you live, particularly if you are an ideal little spot like
this. Normally Cremona is a nice place to live, but it is impossible for
any town to protect itself from this completely."

Philip Reid, whose family has farmed the area around Cremona for more than
100 years, said he isn't concerned about the lab being in the area, "as
long as people I know aren't killing themselves on crystal meth".

"I guess it worries me that it can be kept so quiet. I drive down this road
four times a day and never noticed anything. I never saw any traffic in or
out of here, nothing made me suspicious," said Reid.

Harold Bellamy, who owns an acreage near the lab site, said he was very
surprised to see police at the property Wednesday morning.

"I never thought anything like this would go on here," said Bellamy.

Cremona Mayor Foreman is encouraging residents in and around the village to
be proactive in fighting the drug trade.

"They need to be prepared to take down license plate numbers, identifying
people, and report it. If the attitude is I don't want to be put out, then
people are going to have this thing next door to them."

RCMP have laid charges against two Calgary men who are believed to have
been renting the barn where the meth lab was busted.

[Name redacted], aged 32 and [Name redacted], aged 29 are both charged with
one count of unlawfully producing a controlled substance, Methamphetamine,
contrary to Section 7(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. They
were also charged with unlawfully possessing a substance, Methamphetamine,
for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to Section 5 (2) of the Controlled
Drugs and Substances Act.

If anyone wishes to report any type of suspicious behavior they are asked
to contact the Didsbury RCMP at 335-3381.