MOUNTIES CLAMP DOWN ON DRUG TRADE

Red Deer RCMP are clamping down on the drug trade in the city and they need
the public's help.

On Jan. 29 at 5 p.m. the Emergency Response Team used a search warrant to
enter a home at 6107 51 Ave. where six men were arrested and the home searched.

Corporal Craig Massey told the media this week concerned citizens informed
police they thought something was happening at the address.

A two-week investigation by police led to the search warrant and charges
against one man who lived there, Massey said. Other men were arrested,
interviewed and released.

Police displayed several large bags of marijuana, with a weight of 3.3
pounds, cocaine, hashish, five swords, a blow gun and just under $4,000
cash in Canadian and American currency Tuesday afternoon at the downtown
police office.

Massey says the drug bust isn't a large one, but added it was a
considerable quantity of drugs for a trafficker to have on hand.

Massey estimated the value of the marijuana at $6,600 if sold by the pound,
or more than $30,000 if sold by the gram.

"The investigation isn't done," Massey said. "We want to know where the
cannabis was grown and who supplied it."

Among the items confiscated by police was a computer containing lists of
names of customers and how much they owe the trafficker.

Police will be gleaning as much information as possible from the computer
records for future investigations, Massey said.

Several hypodermic needles used to inject anything from steroids to cocaine
were also seized, along with two weigh scales and a walkie-talkie.

"I don't think the people who told us about the activity understood how
much trafficking was going on," Massey said.

He urged residents to keep an eye on homes in their area and call police if
they think something strange is happening.

"For every "trafficker" (arrested) there are probably 50 more out there,"
Massey said.

Charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine for the purpose of
trafficking, and living off the proceeds of drug trafficking is Shane Allen
Seifried, 25, of Red Deer.

Seifried was charged and released by police to appear in court later this
month.

Asked why it took five days for information about the drug bust to be made
public, Massey said the delay was a problem with the RCMP media relations
office which was working on another schedule.

"The delay was not connected to the investigation," Massey said.