ALERT and RCMP wrap up organized crime investigation in Brooks and Medicine Hat

May 28, 2012

Twenty-one people arrested, 168 drug trafficking and Criminal Code charges laid

Brooks… ALERT‘s Medicine Hat Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU),  an integrated team of Medicine Hat Police Service and RCMP members, in partnership with the Brooks Detachment of the RCMP, recently concluded a large-scale drug trafficking investigation in Brooks and Medicine Hat, Alberta.

During the three-month operation, investigators targeted an organized crime group believed to be trafficking drugs in the area. Search warrants were executed on five residences in the town of Brooks and two in the city of Medicine Hat.  As a result, 21 people, all residents of Brooks and Medicine Hat, were arrested and charged with several Controlled Drugs and Substance Act and Criminal Code offences.

Investigators seized approximately 142 grams of crack cocaine and $6,000 cash. The seized drugs are worth approximately $28,000 if sold on the street.

“We are very pleased with the outcome of this operation as we know that these arrests will have a significant impact on the drug supply to the area.” commented Staff Sergeant David Brandrith of the Medicine Hat CFSEU. “Results like these show the value in having police agencies work together to tackle organized crime in the province.”

Charged are:

• Maulid Mohamed, male, age 21, on eight counts of trafficking a controlled substance, one count of possession of a controlled substance and 24 counts of  breach of recognizance;
• David Pach, male, age 35, on five counts of trafficking a controlled substance and seven counts of breach of  recognizance;
• Gatwech Teny Wang, male, age 27, on three counts of trafficking a controlled substance and 10 counts of breach of recognizance;
• Both Kuon, male, age 26, on five counts of trafficking a controlled substance, one count of possession of proceeds of crime, and one count of obstructing a police officer;
• Pal Gony, male, age 25, on nine counts of trafficking a controlled substance;
• Latjor Tuel, male, age 31, on three counts of trafficking a controlled substance;
• Kur Kur, male, age 38, on two counts of trafficking a controlled substance and two counts of breach of recognizance;
• Mosa Deng, male, age 31, on two counts of trafficking a controlled substance and two counts of breach of recognizance;
• Abdirahman Hassan, male, age 23, on two counts of trafficking a controlled substance and one count of possession of proceeds of crime;
• Korey Maerkl, male, age 21, on two counts of trafficking a controlled substance and four counts of breach of recognizance;
• Stephen Jany Both, male, age 25, on one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking, one count of trafficking a controlled substance and one count of breach of recognizance;
• Roxanne Belanger, female, age 32 , on one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and two counts of breach of recognizance;
• Mohamed Omar, male, age 50, on one count of trafficking a controlled substance and three counts of breach of recognizance;
• Abdi Ahmed, male, age 45, on one count of breach of recognizance;
• Harrun Elmi, male, age 18, on one count of trafficking a controlled substance;
• Kunyak Bichiok, male, age 26, on one count of trafficking a controlled substance;
• David Santino, male, age 24, on one count of trafficking a controlled substance, one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking, and three counts of breach of recognizance;
• Manyang Nyuon, male, age 27, on two counts of trafficking a controlled substance and one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking;
• Darren Martinez, male, age 29, on one count of trafficking in a controlled substance;
• Said Omar, male age, 30, one count of trafficking a controlled substance and one count of possession of a controlled substance;
• Abdirisak Yusuf, male, age 47, one count of possession of a controlled substance;

This investigation is ongoing and further charges may be laid.

“Partnerships in policing are a vital part of our service delivery,” said Staff Sergeant McNulty of the Brooks RCMP. “Our detachment is committed to providing the best possible service to the community, and by working with other agencies like ALERT, we can make our community that much safer.”

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:
S/Sgt David Brandrith                                                             S/Sgt. Tom McNulty
CFSEU-Medicine Hat                                                             Brooks RCMP Detachment
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams                    Phone: 403-794-4400
Ph: 403-529-8448

Candace Cook                                                                        Rita Sittler
Communications                                                                    Communications Coordinator
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams                    Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 780-509-3015                                                                   Ph: 403-529-8416