Ten charged in Edmonton liquor distribution ring
Posted July 12, 2022 12:47 pm.
Last Updated July 26, 2022 8:05 am.
Ten people have been charged in connection to a liquor distribution network investigation.
In 2020 Edmonton police began an investigation into liquor thefts. During the time of the investigation, a coordinated distribution network that was supplying the liquor to legitimate local businesses was uncovered.
“This investigation started with two identified prolific suspects that were responsible for about 50 thousand dollars of liquor thefts. We follow the evidence through and it shows there are multiple layers where it would go right up to the top level of distribution and back out to legitimate businesses,” says Staff Sgt. David Graham.
EPS say over the course of several months search warrants were executed at several homes and businesses, at which point EPS seized:
- Approximately $130,000 of liquor;
- 350,000 unmarked cigarettes;
- 730 fentanyl pills;
- 1.49 kg of cocaine;
- 270 Xanax pills.
“Liquor theft in itself, maybe it doesn’t strike a cord, but this is just one commodity that these criminal networks use. So whether its thefted construction sites, whether its drug trafficking, it’s all connected. It’s not just liquor. And that’s why we call it a criminal network, these networks are involved in cr iminology and that affects us,” Staff Sgt. David Graham says.
In a statement to CityNews, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis says “AGLC recognizes that retail liquor store theft is a serious issue for many licenses.” and says they are giving stores additional options for deterring crime at their locations, which includes anti-theft signage, video surveillance and identification entry systems.
EPS have charged 10 people with various theft and trafficking charges and say another four still remain wanted.
-with files from Laura Krause
