$2.2 million worth of drugs, cash, and weapons have been seized from a home in Red Deer’s Fairview neighbourhood resulting in the City’s largest seizure so far.  

The following items were seized from the home on October 19, 2023.  

  • 6.8 kilograms of fentanyl  
  • 6.5 kilograms of methamphetamine  
  • 0.4 kilograms of cocaine  
  • 1.9 litres of GHB 
  • $17,286  

Among the seized items, one of the most notable features of the investigation is the amount of fentanyl involved.  

“The fentanyl seizure alone ranks as the fourth largest seizure of its kind by ALERT across the whole province,” said ALERT Inspector, Brad Lundeen.  

Nine firearms were also seized from the home including two handguns, four rifles, and three shot guns. Eight of the firearms were found fully loaded with ammunition. Several of the guns were sawed-off, had their serial number defaced, or previously reported as stolen. 20,000 rounds of ammunition were seized as well as body armour.  

“None of these firearms were lawfully possessed and the suspect in this case is actually bound by a lifetime weapons prohibition,” added the Investigator.  

43-year-old Delmond Kroetsch was arrested after investigators witnessed a suspected drug deal that took place in Red Deer’s downtown.  

“Given the volume of the drug seized and our knowledge of the investigation, it's fair to say that this suspect was supplying drugs to street level dealers in and around Red Deer. Red Deer is no stranger to the pains and perils of fentanyl and methamphetamine abuse,” said Lundeen. 

He was charged with:  

  • Possession for the purpose of trafficking  
  • Posession of property obtained by crime 
  • 28 firearms related offences 

Lundeen noted that Kroetsch’s weapons prohibition resulted from a conviction that occurred in 2002 in Fort McMurray.  

“These organized crime groups are utilizing violence to protect that industry and even if we look to just the tragic circumstances in Edmonton from last week where a child was killed in a gang related shooting, organized crime targeted. The violence is growing but the access to firearms is there as well too, and we're just seeing that in almost done every seizure. That's alarming thing from my perspective,” said Lundeen.  

Kroetsch remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court on December 4th.  

“Illicit drugs have done incredible damage in our community. Their presence in Red Deer has touched everyone in some way but none more than the users of their families. The complexities and problems from occurring to a community are manifold and only amplify the already challenging circumstances faced by our most vulnerable populations,” added Superintendent of Red Deer RCMP, Holly Glassford.  

Red Deer’s largest known seizure previously occurred in March of 2019. You can read the details of that investigation by clicking here. 

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