10 arrested, 139 charges laid in largest opioid drug bust in Alberta history
Posted June 29, 2022 12:02 pm.
Ten suspects have been arrested and 139 total charges were laid in connection with the dismantling of a drug “superlab” in a town south of Calgary last summer.
Seven of the accused are from Edmonton, while the other three are from Okotoks. They range in age from 19 to 55.
The one women and nine men were arrested earlier this month.
They are being charged with a variety of offences ranging from fentanyl production to criminal conspiracy.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) says it seized drugs, weapons, cash and vehicles valued at more than $300 million in the July 2021 raid near Aldersyde.
It was Alberta’s largest opioid drug bust ever, and one of Canada’s largest fentanyl seizures.
The investigation called “Project Essence” began in February 2021 and included the search of 13 homes and businesses in the Edmonton and Calgary areas.
ALERT says the drug bust “prevented possibly hundred of millions of fentanyl doses from hitting the streets.”
ALERT says it seized 13.6 kilograms of fentanyl, 11.9 kilograms of fentanyl precursors, 6.6 kilograms of opioids, 9.9 kilograms of methamphetamine and 7,600 kilograms of chemicals used in fentanyl production.
One of the substances seized was initially reported as 10.5 kilograms of a synthetic opioid. It was later determined to be isotonitazene – a drug believed to be more potent than fentanyl.
Eighteen guns, one rifle, $25,000 in cash and jewelry, six vehicles, four motorcycles, three trailers and a boat were also seized.
ALERT estimates the Aldersyde superlab had the capacity to produce 10 kilograms of fentanyl every week.
