Nine charged in Western Canada drug trafficking network

More than 70 charges have been laid after a year-and-a-half-long investigation into a drug trafficking network that spanned from Calgary across Western Canada.

Early last year, the Calgary Police Service Guns and Gangs Unit targeted several people who were believed to have been contributing to rising gun violence in the city.

Through these operations, police identified several people who were working together in a sophisticated drug trafficking ring.

Investigators say this drug network was involved in conflicts across the city with a rival drug trafficking network. This resulted in what police say was more than 20 violent events in Calgary, including a double homicide in Apr. 2019.

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Following the Calgary investigations, 23 search warrants were executed on homes and vehicles in Calgary, Banff and Saskatoon.

Items seized during these warrants included:

• Six guns, including a rifle with a modified barrel
• Five realistic looking airsoft guns
• More than $300,000
• A BMW X5 which was equipped with a hydraulic trapdoor used to transport illegal goods
• More than $55,000 in drugs
• Other items including batons, a taser, bear spray, body armour and more

Nine people from Calgary have since been charged with 73 drugs, weapons and other crime-related charges.

Calgary police say more people were also charged in Saskatoon by the S-ICRT as they are believed to have been helping the Calgary network by funding both drug and legal fees.