Major bust nets $500K
By Lethbridge Herald on June 4, 2025.
Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
LPS has seized close to half million dollars worth of illegal drugs after concluding an investigation into drug trafficking on May 28. Staff Sgt. Ashlin Snowdon says as far as cocaine and MDMA quantities goes, this is one of the largest seizures in recent history.Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald
Lethbridge Police Service recently seized nearly $500,000 worth of drugs and charged two people with trafficking offences.
Staff Sgt. Ashlin Snowdon told members of the media on Tuesday that after an investigation into drug trafficking that recently concluded, large quantities of various illegal drugs were seized.
“We seized approximately 3.6 kilograms of cocaine, more than 1,600 MDMA (ecstasy) tablets, 46 grams of ketamine, 425 grams of psilocybin, 16,000 black stock cigarettes, six kilograms of cannabis, 500 cartridges of cannabis extract and $16,000 cash proceeds of crime,” said Snowdon.
He said an investigation into drug trafficking activity done by the Crime Suppression team and the Property Crimes team, culminated with the execution of a search warrant on May 28 at a home along the 600 block of 10 Street North.
Snowdon added that both teams have been working hard to address some of the addiction-related issues that are taking place in the community.
“As far as cocaine and MDMA quantities goes, it’s one of the largest seizures we’ve had in recent history in Lethbridge,” said Snowdon.
Additional drugs and paraphernalia including a small quantity of methamphetamine and other cannabis and tobacco products were also seized from the home.
Snowdon pointed out that some of the substances seized, such as cigarettes and cannabis, while legal, are also being sold in the black market.
“The significance of locating any substance that isn’t regulated or is sold through a specific store, just like the cannabis here, we truly don’t know what’s in it and neither is the user,” said Snowdon.
He explained that when those products are purchased in a store, they are regulated by the government, LPS knows what is going to be in it and the user also knows what’s in it.
“It’s not entirely uncommon for us to find substances, when tested, in drugs that were unexpected,” said Snowdon.
As part of the investigation, which Snowdon said had been ongoing for a while, police observed the driver of a vehicle engaged in activity consistent with drug trafficking and a targeted traffic stop was conducted along the 1100 block of 19 Street South.
The female driver was subsequently arrested and a search incidental to the arrest resulted in the seizure of nearly $2,300 cash proceeds of crime.
“Here at Lethbridge Police, we always focus on intelligence like policing and it’s a combination of all the information we receive,” said Snowdon. “Information from the public is incredibly important, so I encourage anyone who has any information regarding drug trafficking or suspicious activity in the community to let us know or get in touch with crime stoppers.”
Bradshaw Jerome Balog, 37, of Lethbridge, is charged with four counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000.
Aspen Michayla Woodman, 26, of Lethbridge, is charged with four counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and one count each of possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000 and trafficking in a controlled substance.
Snowdon said Balog was known to LPS, but Woodman was not.
Following judicial interim release hearings, both were released from custody and are scheduled to appear in court June 19.
20-19
Both released😡. How much drugs does one have to be caught with to be put in jail until trial? I wouldn’t be surprised if these two are back to what they do best….selling drugs.
That’s the federal government for you! They handcuffed the Courts and the Crown Prosecutors, making it much harder for police to reduce the drugs on our streets! I don’t see much for change yet coming from the feds!
You are correct though, many have been released and continue to commit crimes, making a mockery of the system while disrespecting society!
Well done LPS! I would imagine there was a considerable amount of manhours put in to this investigation and applaud you all! Thank you!
Released??? I’ll bet they don’t show for any court hearings. Known to police. Police do their job, catch the bad guys, and the court lets them go. Not very rewarding. Cannot a judge decide to leave them in jail if he feels they will reoffend? The cops should be on them now like white on rice – jaywalking, spitting on the sidewalk, whatever – back in jail. I’ve heard that sometimes offenders are taken for a long ride and convinced about the error of their ways. Then again, maybe they would be safer in jail – you are not supposed to lose a half million dollars of other peoples money.
Sadly they were released because they didn’t commit a “violent” crime..
By the way, did you suggest jaywalkers should be in jail?
Just some jaywalkers.
Carney just put the author of catch and release in charge of the PMO. Nice going voters. Quit complaining.
https://open.substack.com/pub/theoppositionnewsnetwork/p/mark-carney-just-hired-david-lamettibecause?r=nlphz&utm_medium=ios
Watch and weep.
I do and it’s usually tears of laughter after everything you post on this forum. It’s fun watching you lose your **** every time you try and take a shot at the feds… still can’t handle that stinging loss lol!
Hey lumpy. Try refuting the comments for a change.
Not in your case, you’re just a whiner.