Five people charged in ALERT cocaine trafficking investigation

June 6, 2013

Medicine Hat…ALERT‘s Medicine Hat Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU), an integrated team of Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) and RCMP members, concluded a cocaine trafficking investigation on June 5 with the arrest of five people.

With assistance from the Brooks RCMP and the Medicine Hat Police Service, CFSEU arrested Malakal TUEL and Duop LOL on Highway #1 at Redcliff, Alberta. Investigators located 162 grams of crack cocaine in the vehicle, along with $1,710 cash.

As a result of further investigation, Duane LEWIS was arrested on Cassills Road in Brooks, Alberta. A search of the suspect and his vehicle turned up 714 grams of cocaine and $1,130 cash. Subsequently, Lensa YOUSEF and Venessa ANDRADE were also arrested at the same location with $13,575 cash and 10 grams of crack cocaine.

In total, 886 grams of cocaine, $16,415 cash and a $60,000 Mercedes SUV were seized. The estimated street value of the drug seized is $88,600.

As a result, the following charges were laid:

• Winnipeg resident Malakal Tuel (male), age 28, is charged with one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine, one count of possession of proceeds of crime, and two counts of breach of recognizance;
• Calgary resident Duop Lol (male), age 25, is charged with one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and one count of possession of proceeds of crime;
• Calgary resident Duane Lewis (male), age 33, is charged with one count of trafficking cocaine, one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and one count of possession of proceeds of crime;
• Calgary resident Lensa Yousef (female), age 23, is charged with one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and one count of possession of proceeds of crime;
• Vanessa Andrade (female) of no fixed address, age 19, is charged with one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and one count of possession of proceeds of crime.

Tuel and Lol are currently being held in custody until their next court appearance on June 11 in Medicine Hat.

Lewis is scheduled to appear in Medicine Hat court for a bail hearing on June 6.

Yousef and Andrade are in custody at the Brooks detachment awaiting bail hearings.

CFSEU-Medicine Hat is an ALERT team established and funded by the Government of Alberta to bring together the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources and tools to combat organized crime. Over 400 municipal police, RCMP, and sheriffs work for ALERT.

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Media inquiries may be directed to:
Sgt. Cory Both
CFSEU-Medicine Hat
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
403-581-1060

Candace Cook
Communications
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
780-509-3015