Photo from www.alert-ab.ca ALERT Medicine Hat's organized crime team seized more than 1 kilogram of methamphetamine and 225 grams of cocaine in the early morning hours of Dec 8. The methamphetamine seizure is believed to be the largest in the city's history. The drugs are worth an estimated $125,000. Two people have been charged, including a 47-year-old woman from Medicine Hat.
Police believe they have made the largest seizure of methamphetamine in Medicine Hat history.
The seizure was made early morning hours of Dec. 8 following a planned vehicle stop on Highway 3 just inside Medicine Hat city limits. In the trunk of the rental vehicle investigators found 1.02 kilograms of meth and 226 grams of cocaine, worth an estimated $125,000, reads a release from the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT).
“Meth is a horrible drug that has certainly impacted this community. Any effort we can undertake to get this drug off the street helps ensure Medicine Hat remains a safe, healthy and vibrant city,” said S/Sgt. Cory Both, ALERT Medicine Hat.
So far in 2017 the local ALERT squad has seized 3.25 kg of methamphetamine. In 2016, 1.47 kg was seized and in 2015 just 369 grams was seized.
“This (kilo) is 36 ounces, so this is wholesale quantities. We’re dealing with dealers who deal to dealers here. They’re up the food chain quite a ways,” Both said. “When you’re talking a kilogram, you’re talking 1,000 grams. When the average user possesses about a gram, or a gram to 3.5, in every gram there’s approximately 20 doses of methamphetamine … So when you’re taking about a kilo seizure, you’re talking about 20,000 doses that are taken off the street.”
The driver of the vehicle, a 47-year-old woman from Medicine Hat was arrested. At the same time a 28-year-old man was arrested in Lethbridge.
Shonna Scriven, 47, is charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime. She is being held in custody and is to appear in Medicine Hat court on Dec. 14.
Michael Abate, 28, Lethbridge, is charged with drug trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime. He is in custody and is to appear in Lethbridge court on Dec. 13.
Medicine Hat Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service and RCMP were involved in the investigation, which began in early December.
