ALERT issues Canada-wide warrant in connection with multimillion-dollar drug bust
Posted January 11, 2023 10:26 am.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) have charged four men and are seeking a Canada-wide warrant for a fifth suspect in connection with a multimillion-dollar drug bust that took place in Edmonton in 2021.
ALERT’s organized crime and gang team has laid a total of 30 criminal charges against the five suspects, with the most recent arrest taking place on January 4, 2023.
The five suspects are charged with drug and firearm offenses and for being members of, and committing crimes on behalf of, a criminal organization. The charges are in relation to a November 2021 drugs and firearms seizure that took place in Edmonton, and had connections to Red Deer and Grande Prairie.
“ALERT’s investigation revealed the Edmonton-based group was aggressive in supplying smaller cells in Grande Prairie and Red Deer. By leveraging our criminal intelligence, and coordinating ALERT’s resources, we were able to undermine their operations by intercepting significant shipments of harmful drugs,” said Inspector Kevin Berge, ALERT Edmonton in November
One of the charges is the recruitment of members by a criminal organization, which is a rare charge in Canada. One of the suspects, from Surrey, B.C., is alleged to have recruited people from B.C.’s lower mainland to traffic drugs in Alberta.
Organized crime charges are laid when three or more people are engaged in criminal activity for financial benefit. Participation in a criminal organization is punishable with a penalty of up to 14 years in jail.
The drug seizure was valued at over $1,000,000 and included more than 8.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and nearly two kilograms of fentanyl powder.
Anyone with information on this investigation is asked to contact local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is always anonymous.
