News release

Athabasca RCMP investigate clandestine drug laboratory and seek public assistance for suspects

April 24, 2026 - Colinton, Alberta
From: Alberta RCMP

Content

Colinton, Alta - On April 13, 2026, a concerned resident contacted Athabasca RCMP to report unknown materials found in a building along 50^th Avenue in Colinton. Athabasca RCMP recognized it as a clandestine drug laboratory set up. Athabasca RCMP consulted with specialized units, including the RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region's Clandestine Lab Enforcement and Response (CLEAR) Team, Alberta RCMP Forensic Identification Section (Edmonton), and Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (Wood Buffalo).

A search warrant was obtained and the CLEAR Team assisted Athabasca RCMP by successfully dismantling a clandestine synthetic drug laboratory between April 14 to 17, 2026. Due to the hazardous nature of the site, it is a complex dismantling process where specialized chemists and hazardous waste experts are required to ensure the safe removal of all involved materials. The cleanup of such sites involves significant resources due to the extreme toxicity of the chemicals used in an illicit synthetic drug operation.

Items seized during the search include but are not limited to:

• Approximately 1 kilogram of suspected fentanyl.
• A significant amount of precursor chemicals and waste product.

The Athabasca RCMP investigation remains ongoing.

"The scale of this laboratory and the toxicity of the chemicals found pose a serious threat not only to those involved but to the surrounding community," stated Sergeant Justin Dawley, Acting Detachment Commander of Athabasca RCMP Detachment. "By dismantling this operation, thousands of potentially fatal doses have been prevented from reaching Albertans."

If you have any information that would be helpful to police including those who are responsible for this, you are asked to contact Athabasca RCMP at 780-675-5122. 

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the "P3 Tips" app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

Contacts