Drugs and firearms have been seized and seven people charged with drug trafficking following the search of a Lethbridge home, according to an ALERT news release.

ALERT Lethbridge’s organized crime team and Lethbridge Police Service searched a home on Laval Road in west Lethbridge on Sept. 16. The home has recently been the subject of numerous public complaints about suspected drug activity, the release says.

Police located varying amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, along with two firearms.

Andrew Hall, 44, was arrested at the home. ALERT alleges he was supplying drugs to street-level fentanyl dealers who predominantly operated in the city’s downtown.

Six street-level drug dealers were linked to this arrest. In total, the suspects face 28 criminal charges related to drug trafficking.

“Police and residents are tired of drug trafficking in the downtown core,” says Staff Sgt. Trevor Sheppard of ALERT. “Drug traffickers will attempt to hide in our neighbourhoods while they prey on the vulnerable areas in the city. This targeted enforcement campaign cut off this drug supply network and has also taken a number of prolific dealers off the street.”

Most of the suspects remain in custody with court appearances scheduled for Oct. 16:

• Andrew Hall, 44
• Courtney Ogbogu, 35
• Marty Fransen, 50
• Shaun Dyck, 36
• Anna Switzer, 35
• Matthew Clark, 41
• Nicole Hormoth, 39

ALERT will send both seized firearms to the Provincial Firearms Lab for analysis to determine if they can be linked to other crimes.

ALERT began this investigation in June in response to community concerns about drug trafficking in the downtown.

Anyone who suspects drug or gang activity can call local police or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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