RCMP in Red Deer have seized a house at the centre of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation.
Officers seized the home – located at 87 Towers Close – all the contents inside and two vehicles.
According to RCMP, it’s the largest seizure of proceeds or instruments of crime in central Alberta’s history.
The move comes just months after the same home was searched by RCMP investigating an alleged drug trafficking operation.
During the search of the home on Towers Close, as well as two other houses in Red Deer, RCMP located more than 18 pounds of marijuana, a kilo of cocaine, over 200 oxycodone pills and $37,000 in cash. At the time, RCMP laid charges against brothers Cody and Clay Crombie, as well as Matthew Rose and Katherine Howe.
Neighbours said they were “dumbfounded” when Rose and Howe were released on bail after the April arrests and returned to live at the home.
Erin Larouche said they were the only family on the street that didn’t mingle much.
“Honestly, lately they’ve just been doing gardening and that kind of stuff, but we’ve told our kids to stay far away,” she said.
The pair lived with a baby girl, who police said is now staying with a relative.
On Wednesday, officers removed a stroller and car seat base from the property.
“I think they had a kid’s birthday party just a weekend or so ago,” neighbour Michael Williston said.
On Wednesday, RCMP announced additional charges of laundering and fraud would be laid against Rose, 31 and Howe, 20. Both remain in police custody.
The contents of the home will go into storage, and then likely be auctioned off.
With the house, they could bring in an estimated $900,000 for victim support services.
That will “hopefully redeem some of the damage that has occurred because of the (drug-related) activities,” according to Red Deer Mayor Tara Veer.
Anyone with information on the investigation is asked to call Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575 or contact Crime Stoppers.
With files from Mia Sosiak.