The Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) of the Airdrie RCMP has arrested a 24-year-old woman from Airdrie and removed some potentially deadly drugs from the streets at the same time.  

The CRU seized suspected Carfentanyl and Methamphetamines after they conducted a traffic stop in the parking lot at the Cross Iron Mills Mall on Sunday, February 18th.

Constable Dan Martin says at around 9:30 pm, after the mall had closed for the night, the Airdrie RCMP CRU was conducting pro-active patrols in the area.

"They observed some vehicles parked there, running, with people inside.   They approached one vehicle and observed some drug paraphernalia in plain view.  Both occupants of that vehicle were arrested and searched."

As a result of the search, a 24-year-old Airdrie woman was arrested and charged with possession of Carfentanyl and Methamphetamines.

Martin says the removal of the drugs from the streets is a positive step.   "Carfentanyl being a derivative of fentanyl is quite a dangerous and even deadly drug."

Martin says it's difficult to gauge just how much more of the drug the RCMP are coming across.  "Obviously it is a drug that's still fairly new to the province and it has the potential to have deadly consequences.  Fentanyl and Carfentanyl we've noticed is being mixed with other drugs, whether it be heroin or cocaine.  A lot of this stuff is being made in somebody's garage or somebody's home.  It's very dangerous and any chance we get to take it off the streets is a big win for the community." 

The Airdrie RCMP Crime Reduction Unit has been active for some time now and has several mandates, one of which is the drug trade.  Martin says Crime Reduction is a hot topic in Alberta right now.  A four-member provincial Crime Reduction Unit is now being housed at the Airdrie RCMP Detachment and just began work last week.  They've been tasked with covering all of southern Alberta. 

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