Red Deer RCMP have charged a 45-year-old local man following a month-long investigation into drug trafficking in the city. Officers executed a search warrant at a north-end residence on March 19, 2026, where they seized fentanyl, methamphetamine, two firearms, ammunition, contraband cigarettes, and more than $4,000 in cash.
Michael Stinert faces multiple charges, including possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, as well as multiple weapons-related offences. A 63-year-old woman is also facing pending charges in connection with the investigation, which was led by the Red Deer RCMP General Investigation Section and supported by the Crime Reduction Team.
This seizure comes as the community continues to face significant challenges regarding the opioid crisis. While Red Deer recorded 27 opioid-related deaths in 2025, a slight decrease from 30 deaths in 2024, the city maintains the second-highest rate of fentanyl-related deaths in Alberta. Local authorities have also noted a surge in carfentanil, a substance significantly more potent than fentanyl, which complicates emergency response efforts as it often requires more intensive treatment than standard naloxone.
Data indicates that emergency medical service responses to opioid-related calls in Red Deer rose by 112 per cent in the nine months following the closure of the city’s overdose prevention site in March 2025. Cst. Andrew Devine of the RCMP noted that drug trafficking remains a serious concern that negatively impacts families and lives throughout the community.
The RCMP is encouraging residents to report any suspicious activity to local police to assist in ongoing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking operations. This case is the latest in a series of enforcement actions in the area, including an October 2023 operation by Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams that resulted in the seizure of over $2 million worth of illegal substances and firearms.
