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ALERT and RCMP wrap up organized crime investigation in Brooks

ALERT and RCMP wrap up organized crime investigation in Brooks

February 6, 2012

ALERT and RCMP wrap up organized crime investigation in Brooks

Twelve people arrested, 39 drug trafficking 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 the town of Brooks, Alberta.

During the four-month operation, three separate drug trafficking groups were identified for investigation. Search warrants were executed on five residences in the town.  As a result of these investigations, 12 people, all residents of Brooks, were arrested and charged with several Controlled Drugs and Substance Act and Criminal Code offences.

Investigators seized approximately 9.3 kilograms of processed marihuana, 383 grams of cocaine, half a kilogram of psilocybin (mushrooms), and $35,000 cash. The total value of all drugs seized is estimated at $138,000.

“Given the scope of this investigation and the size of the community, we believe 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.”

Arrested and charged are:

  • Shawn Finlay, age 26, on three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possession of proceeds of crime;
  • Jason McIvor, age 36, on four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, one count of possession of proceeds of crime, and one count of possession of a prohibited weapon;
  • Mark Dallaire, age 22, on three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking;
  • Shawn Crawford, age 37, on one count of possession and one count of possession of proceeds of crime;
  • Tina Crawford, age 36, on one count of possession and one count of possession of proceeds of crime;
  • Lacey McIvor, 23, on one count of possession for the purpose trafficking and one count of possession of proceeds of crime;
  • Robin Pennell, age 32, on one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and two counts of breach of recognizance;
  • Linda Hansen, age 61, on two counts of possession, one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking, one count of possession of proceeds of crime, and one count of production;
  • Karen Fahey, age 50, on two counts of possession, one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking, one count of possession of proceeds of crime, and one count of production;
  • Timothy Thiessen, age 32, on two counts of possession, one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking, one count of possession of proceeds of crime, and one count of production.
  • Dany Touch, age 27, on one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking; and
  • Ri Jin, age 26, on one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

“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
CFSEU-Medicine Hat
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
Ph: 403-529-8448

S/Sgt Tom McNulty
Brooks RCMP Detachment
Ph: 403-794-4400

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

Rita Sittler
Communications Coordinator
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8416

Since 2022, CISA has been guided by four pillars that focus the effort to promote an integrated, intelligence-led approach to combating organized crime; these are:

  • Building Relationships with Stakeholders;
  • Promote Intel Sharing Across the Province;
  • Being Proactive and Identify Emerging Trends; and
  • Investing in Our People Through Training and Development

 

Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta (CISA) has recently developed an Alberta Firearms Intelligence Centre (AFIC) to equitably expand access to firearms intelligence for all law enforcement agencies within Alberta. AFIC will provide timely, accurate, and actionable intelligence to law enforcement agencies and policy-makers to achieve the shared and collaborative goals of increasing public safety concerning firearm-related crimes.

Protecting Kids Online | Internet Child Exploitation

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

FILE INTAKES

680

872

1,149

1,114

3,815

2,994

2,764

SUSPECTS CHARGED

22

16

34

37

109

81

125

CHARGES LAID

87

45

123

160

415

351

413

CHILDREN RESCUED

26

78

56

43

203

46

100

EXHIBITS SEIZED

335

368

545

476

1,724

1,243

1,845

TOTAL PHOTOS/VIDEOS

262,400

511,133

1,374,310

606,254

2,754,097

2,551,921

13,260,819

Stopping Human Trafficking | HUMAN TRAFFICKING & COUNTER EXPLOITATION

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

SUSPECTS CHARGED

13

10

7

4

34

30

76

CHARGES LAID

79

46

87

19

231

96

157

VICTIM INTERVENTIONS

30

29

17

37

113

28

22

Intelligence & Expertise | CISA / Training

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

INTELLIGENCE REPORTS

409

296

327

442

1,474

1,560

1,318

TRAINING COURSES

5

3

8

11

27

36

25

CANDIDATES TRAINED

321

56

135

350

862

933

638

Disrupt & Dismantle Organized Crime | Combined Special Forces Enforcement

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

SUSPECTS CHARGED

40

27

42

32

141

197

168

CHARGES LAID

176

156

237

231

800

1,088

820

FIREARMS SEIZED

105

53

26

48

232

102

126

EST. VALUE OF DRUGS SEIZED

$906,814

$553,851

$2,725,161

$1,148,337

$5,334,163

$10,898,269

$334,093,020

PROCEEDS OF CRIME SEIZED

$218,133

$52,970

$130,996

$230,195

$632,294

$1,432,847

$21,740,617

ANNUAL Regional ResultS

ARRESTS

CHARGES

FIREARMS

DRUGS

PROCEEDS

CALGARY

24

110

14

$937,422

$65,881

EDMONTON

17

131

45

$592,839

$272,446

FORT MCMURRAY

8

78

4

$352,942

$144,301

GRANDE PRAIRIE

7

17

13

$192,145

$31,855

LETHBRIDGE

7

29

44

$349,773

$51,245

LLOYDMINSTER

24

93

41

$164,134

$12,504

MEDICINE HAT

37

179

13

$293,108

$7,861

RED DEER

17

163

58

$2,451,800

$46,201

TOTALS

141

800

232

$5,334,163

$632,294

Organized Property Crimes | Auto Crimes

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

SUSPECTS CHARGED

1

1

2

1

10

CHARGES LAID

11

47

STOLEN VEHICLES

23

15

1

6

45

245

118

RECOVERED ASSETS

$1,432,000

$941,025

$108,000

$260,000

$2,741025

$8,420,500

$3,919,500

Firearms investigations | Firearms lab & Gang suPpression teams

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

FIREARMS EXAMINATIONS

349

351

243

235

1,178

EXHIBIT EXAMINATIONS

1,316

1,409

891

1,099

4,715

SERIAL NUMBER RESTORATIONS

31

34

19

24

108

IBIS SUBMISSIONS

343

421

1,334

304

2,402

GUN SEIZURES

1

14

15

SUSPECTS CHARGED

4

22

26

CHARGES LAID

41

144

185

Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) involves images and/or videos that depict the sexual abuse of minors – the majority of which involve prepubescent children. Often, CSAM involves explicit and/or extreme sexual assaults against the child victim (Cybertip.ca).

Learn more about Internet Child Exploitation and ALERT’s integrated teams combatting this issue.

Ghost Guns are illegal, privately manufactured firearms or lower receivers. These weapons are often made with 3D-printers, and undermine public safety due to their lack of licensing requirements, serialization and safety controls.

Learn more about Ghost Guns on ALERT’s dedicated Privately Manufactured Firearms info page