ALERT authorized seizure of money in Lethbridge

More than $80,000 in proceeds from Lethbridge's largest drug bust will go toward funding community crime prevention projects in Alberta, police said Tuesday.

The record-breaking bust took place on December 20, 2022, resulting in the seizure of more than $1 million worth of illegal drugs and the indictment of then-34-year-old Patrick Rodney.

In addition to the drugs, officers seized cash, bank accounts and other property, all of which will be used to give back to the community.

In a news release, Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) explained that the province's civil forfeiture office has filed a lawsuit to seize Rodney's cash, bank accounts and Subaru registered as drug proceeds or instruments.

The seizure was issued on January 17.

“Organized crime does so much damage to communities and it's an opportunity to make money off of drugs by supporting community crime prevention initiatives,” said ALERT Sgt. Peter Clarke in a news release.

Rodney is scheduled to appear in court on February 26 to answer his criminal charges.