Pubdate: Tue, 22 Feb 2005
Source: Olds Albertan, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 The Olds Albertan
Contact:  http://oldsalbertan.awna.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2380
Author: Dan Singleton
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our editors 
may redact the names and addresses of accused persons.

CREMONA METHAMPHETAMINE LAB BUSTED

Cremona Mayor Ken Foreman says a massive methamphetamine lab bust just 
outside the 420-resident village last week doesn't really surprise him.

"The reality is we live within 60 minutes of Calgary, and Calgary's 
influence is going to reach out," said Foreman. "If you're in an illegal 
business, you've got a big potential market there to sell your product. We 
shouldn't be surprised that someone would pick a quiet little place like 
Cremona.

"Nobody wants to see organized crime in their community, but it doesn't 
matter where you live, particularly if you are an ideal little spot like this."

Two Calgary men, [Name redacted], 32, and [Name redacted], 29, have been 
charged with unlawfully producing a controlled substance, and unlawfully 
possessing a substance for the purpose of trafficking.

They have both been ordered detained pending a court appearance Feb. 23.

About 10 kilograms of Methamphetamine was seized from what is believed to 
be a clandestine lab at the site, say police. Methamphetamine is a 
highly-addictive drug.

Police from Didsbury, Edmonton, Calgary and elsewhere spent most of the day 
Wednesday, at the Cremona scene. Hazardous materials units, including 
technicians in protective gear, were also called in to examine the lab, 
believed to be one of the largest ever busted in Alberta. The lab was 
located in a large barn on a farm property on the Carstairs Blind Line Road 
just east of Hwy 22.

The lab was busted after a real estate broker spotted something suspicious 
during a visit.

"I visited the property because I have it listed," said Randall Oberik, 
broker with Water Valley's Cowboy Trail Realty. "Being a licenced real 
estate agent, through the Alberta Real Estate Association, we get training 
on things to look for as far as grow rooms. So this looked liked a grow 
room to me.

"I probably wasn't in there for more than 20 seconds. There was a mezzanine 
level on this building and it had been all sealed up and plywooded in. What 
really aroused my suspicions was the fact there was a large industrial fan 
going on.

"It was kind of a fluke, freaky thing that I stumbled across it and 
reported it as we all should. It turned out to be a big operation in there 
apparently."

Mountain View County Reeve Al Kemmere said the bust is a blow to the 
county's image as a safe community.

"We always think that our kids are protected living in the country, but 
this hits pretty close to home," said Kemmere. "This is very disappointing 
to have that related to the county, no doubt about it.

"I'm totally baffled by it. I'm amazing this is going on in the county. You 
hear about it in other areas but you never consider it to happen in your 
own county."

Mountain View County councillor Charles Van Arnam, whose riding includes 
the site, said: "It is a huge surprise and a disappointment. It's a long 
way from the RCMP detachment (at Didsbury), so obviously people see that as 
an opportunity to take advantage of the situation."

Philip Reid, whose family has farmed the area around Cremona for more than 
100 years, said he isn't concerned about the lab being in the area "as long 
as people I know aren't killing themselves on crystal meth."

"I guess it worries me that it can be kept so quiet. I drive down this road 
four times a day and never noticed anything. I never saw any traffic in or 
out of here, nothing made me suspicious," said Reid.

Harold Bellamy, who owns an acreage near the lab site, said he was very 
surprised to see police at the property that morning.

"I never thought anything like this would go on here," said Bellamy.

Cremona Mayor Foreman is encouraging residents in and around the village to 
be proactive in fighting the drug trade.

"They need to be prepared to take down licence plate numbers, identifying 
people, and report it. If the attitude is I don't want to be put out, then 
people are going to have this thing next door to them."

Police are asking anyone in the area of the lab who may have noticed 
strange discolouration of snow or soil, or dead wildlife that is out of the 
ordinary to contact them at 335-3381.
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MAP posted-by: Beth