After a year-long investigation, Drumheller RCMP General Investigation Section (GIS), in collaboration with multiple RCMP units, has successfully concluded a drug trafficking investigation, resulting in several people being arrested and illicit drug seizures.
The investigation, which began in April of 2024, targeted individuals suspected of distributing illicit drugs in Drumheller and surrounding areas. Through coordinated efforts with other RCMP units, including Alberta Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services, Southern Alberta Crime Reduction Unit, Red Deer ALERT and Strathmore GIS, police were able to disrupt a network involved in trafficking-controlled substances.
During the execution of multiple search warrants, officers seized a quantity of drugs, including suspected cocaine, psilocybin, LSD, firearms, cash and other items related to drug trafficking.
As a result of this investigation, 38-year-old Chase Huene, a resident of Starland County, has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and possession of proceeds of crime.
Robert Adeus Hamilton,35, a resident of Drumheller, has been charged with trafficking cocaine, possession for the purpose of trafficking psylocibin and trafficking psylocibin.
Neil Lanos, 54, a resident of Drumheller, has been charged with trafficking cocaine, possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and possession of proceeds of crime.
All three have been released from custody to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Drumheller on April 11, 2025.
If you have any information regarding these matters, please contact Drumheller RCMP at 403.823.7590 or contact your local Police Service. 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.

In short order, local residents will have the opportunity to study nursing in the Drumheller area without leaving their home community.
At the Festivalley celebration hosted by the Drumheller Area Health Foundation on Saturday, March 29, it was announced the expansion of the Grow Your Own Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. This is a collaboration with Alberta Health Services and the University of Calgary to allow students living in the Drumheller area to study and complete their Bachelor of Nursing program while living in their home community.
Drumheller will be the third and final site for such a program, with the program already in place in Drayton Valley and Wainwright.
The Drumheller intake for the program will begin in October for a September 2026 start.
“This program is delivered by the University of Calgary, supported by the operational staff out here,” explains Carolyn Trumpur of AHS. “This model works. The first time we got this up and running was in the Wainwright community. We launched this during the pandemic. While the pandemic had lots of very negative things that happened, what it did help us move forward with was understanding how we could deliver university degrees and education to rural communities without people having to actually travel to urban communities for their education.”
The first cohort of Wainwright students is graduating this year.
“It is clear when students are able to train at home, they are more likely to stay at home and serve there in communities after graduation,” said Trumpur. “It is backed by the community, it is driven by collaboration and is focused on the future of rural health care.”
Access to the program will be limited to students within 130 kilometres of Drumheller and be restricted to students who are rural. While the students will be based at their home, they will have the opportunity to work in various rural sites throughout the zone.
The Drumheller Area Health Foundation will support the program by creating a simulation lab. The university is providing the equipment, creating a rural hub of excellence.
“This will support the surrounding communities with rurally trained registered nurses," said Jack Watts, of the Drumheller Area Health Foundation. “We are very excited to have this opportunity to continue to support the great people, patients and residents of the Health Centre.
Health Minister Arianna LaGrange provided her comments for the crowd assembled.
“One of the ways we are making sure Alberta has the nurses it needs is by providing more nursing education close to home, so locals can learn, train, and ultimately find employment right in their own communities. It is very exciting this will be happening right here in Drumheller," said LaGrange.