Police continue to investigate after four homes raided in Cochrane earlier this month in relation to drugs.
RCMP and Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) seized $13,000 in cash, 28 grams of cocaine, 3.3 grams of unknown white powder, a shotgun and a rifle with various rounds of ammunition and other evidence consistent with drug trafficking including packaging materials, score sheets, scales and a number of cell phones on Sept. 1.
While investigators admit there were not large quantities of evidence, they said that does not diminish the significance.
“The (amount) doesn’t necessarily mean they are not significant players, that is just what they had at the time of the search,” explained Mike Tucker, communications manager for ALERT.
“Just from the work from the detachment, we know the individuals were very actively supplying in Cochrane – they were very in control of the drug market here.”
The four houses were raided after a short three-month investigation that started in June initiated by the Cochrane RCMP. While investigators admitted they do not know what will happen to the homes, Tucker said sometimes civil forfeiture can be an option if there was drug manufacturing in the home.
“I don’t know specifically what the situation is,” Tucker said.
“There is evidence one house was being used as a cocaine and conversion lab – that is where they take cocaine and add a buffing agent to dilute the product then they mix it and repress it.”
Two vehicles were also seized during the raids, one had a licence plate from B.C.
Parker Burrow, 29, Jared Burrow, 25, and Jak Burchell, 26, were charged with drug related offences on Sept. 2.
The Burrows brothers, Parker and Jared, were also facing charges in Kelowna earlier this year after a violent break and enter last December. Both were facing charges of possession of a loaded firearm, use of a firearm to commit an indictable offence, break and enter, assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, uttering threats and possession of a firearm.
Additional charges are still being contemplated but no more information can be released at this time, Tucker said.
