The Raid
On February 13, investigators from ALERT's Lethbridge organized crime team searched a home in North Lethbridge and found what they were looking for and then some.
The target was a home tied to suspected drug trafficking. What they seized: a handgun with its serial number deliberately defaced, multiple magazines and ammunition, evidence connected to drug trafficking, small amounts of cocaine, and $5,100 in cash.
Two men were arrested as a result. Jason Van Den Hemel, 50, and Brandon Pollard, 33, both face weapons-related charges. Both were released on bail. ALERT held the release for nearly a month before going public on March 9 standard practice for the unit, which typically waits until charges are confirmed before publishing.
Why the Defaced Serial Number Matters
Serial numbers on firearms exist so guns can be traced back to the manufacturer, through the chain of sale, and to the person who last legally owned them. Scraping or grinding off that number is a deliberate attempt to cut that trail.
"Any firearm with its serial number defaced foreshadows criminal intent," said Staff Sgt. Trevor Sheppard of ALERT. "ALERT will be submitting this for ballistics testing and identification to see if it can be linked to any other criminal offences."
That last part matters. Ballistics testing can connect a seized firearm to unsolved shootings or other crimes meaning this gun could be relevant to investigations well beyond this single case.
What ALERT Is
ALERT is a provincially funded enforcement unit that pools investigators from the RCMP, Calgary Police, Edmonton Police, Lethbridge Police, and several other agencies into specialized teams targeting organized crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, firearms, and financial crimes. They operate across Alberta, with a dedicated team in Lethbridge. Local police in this case Lethbridge Police Service provided assistance on the operation.
Lethbridge Context
Lethbridge has dealt with persistent drug trafficking and gang-related activity for years, much of it tied to the opioid supply chain moving through southern Alberta. ALERT's Lethbridge unit recorded 14 arrests, 50 charges, 5 firearms seized, and over $135,000 in estimated drug value seized in the 2024-25 fiscal year, according to the organization's published statistics.
A handgun connected to a drug trafficking address with its serial number removed fits a pattern investigators in the city know well.
Tips
Anyone with information about drug or gang activity in Lethbridge can contact Lethbridge Police Service directly or reach Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Source: ALERT Alberta — alert-ab.ca
https://alert-ab.ca/handgun-seized-from-lethbridge-home/
