CARSTAIRS - A 59-year-old Carstairs man is facing numerous charges, including trafficking a controlled substance, assault and possession of a prohibited weapon, after police executed search warrants on properties in Carstairs and Airdrie on March 5, say officials.
Didsbury RCMP initiated an investigation in October after information was received that suspects were using a butane extractor, as well as in possession of multiple controlled substances, RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney said in a release issued Wednesday.
“The investigation resulted in two search warrants being executed,” she said. “With the assistance of the RCMP’s clandestine lab enforcement and response team (CLEAR), Didsbury RCMP and Olds Crime Reduction Unit (CRU), a search warrant was executed at a residence in Carstairs, while Airdrie CRU executed a search warrant at an Airdrie business,” she said.
“During the search of the Carstairs residence, a butane extractor was located. This extractor is volatile in nature if not monitored/operated correctly, and possessed an explosion/fire risk to the public in Carstairs.”
In a follow-up interview, Slaney told the Albertan butane extractors can be used in the production of illicit drugs.
During the same Carstairs search, officers seized about 250 illicit cannabis plants, about 10 pounds of psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms, three firearms, a taser, and multiple ounces of cannabis extracts, she said.
During the search of the Airdrie business, a male suspect was arrested.
Police say the suspect was found in possession of $1,900 cash, 55.9 grams (g) suspected cocaine pre-packaged for three individual sales, 6.4 g of suspected MDMA pre-packaged for 13 individual sales; approximately 48 g of suspected psilocybin mushrooms, assorted regulated CBD/THC products (balms and tinctures), 26 packages of illicit cannabis edibles, approximately 1.3 kilograms (kg) of cannabis believed to be possessed for illicit sales, 567 g of suspected hash believed to be possessed for illicit sales, approximately 160 g of suspected cannabis extracts believed to be possessed for illicit sales, and a taser.
Carstairs resident Lex Matt Bronee, 59, faces charges of assault, two counts of uttering threats, trafficking controlled substance (MDMA), possession of a prohibited weapon knowing its possession is unauthorized (taser), possession of property obtained by crime, three counts of possession of a prohibited weapon contrary to order, two counts of careless use (storage) of a firearm, and two counts of possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized.
He also faces four counts of of possession for the purpose of trafficking controlled substance cocaine, psilocybin and MDMA, making shatter with the use of butane (production of cannabis by the use of an organic solvent), possessing shatter made personally, trafficking (sell) illicit cannabis, and possession for the purpose of trafficking (selling) illicit cannabis.
He has been released on $500 bail pending an April 10 appearance in Alberta Court of Justice in Airdrie.
