DRUG BUST TARGETS LOCAL TRAFFICKERS

A combined effort between Olds, Didsbury/Carstairs and Sundre RCMP
with the Red Deer RCMP drug section has resulted in a major drug bust
worth $90,000 with 150 charges being laid against 43 Central Alberta
residents.

The investigation, known as Project Kottage, led to the seizure of
(approximately) 794 grams of cocaine and crack cocaine, 130 grams of
methamphetamines, 958 grams of marijuana and 125 grams of magic
mushrooms, along with two handguns, one assault riffle, explosives,
four vehicles and several bladed weapons.

RCMP in Three Hills and Lacombe police services were also
involved.

Cpl. Rick Goldstein, Red Deer RCMP Drug Section, said all the weapons
seized were from the Red Deer area. He would not say the amount or
type of drugs seized in each municipality as more arrests are still
expected.

Goldstein said involvement of local RCMP detachments was crucial in
this investigation.

"This was an intelligence driven investigation. We recognized early on
that who would be better to gather intelligence than the local RCMP
who live and police in those communities," said Goldstein.

Together, with the Red Deer drug section and city street teams,
detachments in all the municipalities identified an intelligence
officer who collected information and identified sources for
information in each community.

"They provided that information to us and we were able to successfully
infiltrate undercover drug officers to purchase drugs from (local
traffickers) identified by RCMP intelligence officers."

Sundre RCMP Const. Bryce Long said one of the last search warrants
executed during Project Kottage happened at a farmhouse just north of
Sundre, Nov. 13.

At that location officers seized a quantity of marijuana (over 30
grams) and a rifle.

Two adults, a man and a woman, have been charged with possession for
the purpose of trafficking. RCMP in Olds and Didsbury are expecting to
lay charges soon.

In another, unrelated matter, a male was charged with trafficking
marijuana, Nov. 17, in Three Hills.

Upon arrest, the man had in his possession the street value of
approximately $3,000 worth of marijuana packaged and ready for
distribution. Christopher Lee Monasterski, 28, of Calgary, was charged
with trafficking and possession for the purpose of trafficking.