ALERT Makes Record Drug Seizure in Calgary

ALERT Makes Record Drug Seizure in Calgary

Calgary… A year-long investigation into a Calgary-based drug trafficking network has led to one of Alberta’s largest drug seizures. More than $4 million worth of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine was seized by ALERT.

Project Offshore was an investigation by ALERT Calgary’s organized crime and gang team that focused on a drug trafficking consortium operating in Calgary. The group was allegedly involved in wholesale drug distribution and money laundering that was provincial in scope.

Project Offshore began in September 2016. A total of 11 homes were searched in Calgary during the course of the investigation and arrests took place in November 2017. To date, 11 suspects have been charged with more than 125 criminal offences.

“Project Offshore is proof that ALERT’s integrated approach works. We know enforcement is key to reducing the supply of drugs. I would like to commend all investigators and officers involved in this specific case. On behalf of all Albertans, thank you for your continued great work that helps keep our communities safe,” said Minister Kathleen Ganley, Alberta Justice and Solicitor General.

ALERT seized record amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine in this operation, with 15,757 fentanyl pills and 28 kilograms of methamphetamine taken off the street. The fentanyl seizure is the largest of its kind by ALERT, while the meth seizure nearly doubles the previous record for all of Alberta.

Previously, the largest meth seizure in the province was made at the Del Bonita border crossing in January 2016. A joint investigation between Canada Border Services Agency and ALERT seized 14.5 kilograms of meth concealed in a vehicle.

The street value of the drugs seized in Project Offshore surpasses $4 million. The seizure includes:

  • 15,757 fentanyl pills;
  • 28 kilograms of methamphetamine;
  • 6.7 kilograms of cocaine;
  • 1.5 kilograms of crack cocaine;
  • 75 kilograms of cocaine buffing agent;
  • 3 cocaine conversion labs;
  • 11 handguns; and
  • body armour and various weapons.

ALERT also seized $523,232 in cash proceeds of crime, two vehicles, and has restrained a million-dollar mansion located in north Calgary. The home belongs to Simon Yuen and was allegedly financed through a profitable drug trafficking operation.

Yuen was allegedly part of drug trafficking consortium that also included key figures Guan Chen, Chang Yong Yun, and Benham Fayaz. ALERT alleges the group facilitated drug distribution and supplied street-level drug dealers.

More than 120 charges related to drugs, firearms, proceeds of crime, and organized crime have been laid against 11 suspects:

  • Jonathan Aaron Bejo, a 25-year-old man from Calgary (8 charges);
  • Guan Chen, a 27-year-old man from Calgary (21 charges);
  • Jia Nan Chen, a 29-year-old woman from Calgary (9 charges);
  • Danny Ho Ming Chui, a 36-year-old man from Calgary (9 charges);
  • Hue Thi “Kim” Do, a 39-year-old woman from Calgary (1 charge);
  • Behnam Fayaz, a 31-year-old man from Calgary (31 charges);
  • Jamal Mohamud, a 29-year-old man from Calgary (15 charges);
  • Chang Yong Yun, a 37-year-old man from Calgary (11 charges);
  • Lanssa Yousuf, a 28-year-old woman from Calgary (12 charges);
  • Simon Sui-Sang Yuen, a 34-year-old man from Calgary (9 charges); and
  • Jian Nan Zhao, a 28-year-old man from Calgary (1 charge).

Yuen, Mohamud and Jia Chen have not been located to date. Warrants have been issued for their arrest, and anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Project Offshore involved a number of partner agencies including the Calgary Police Service, RCMP, Lethbridge Police, Alberta Sheriffs, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), Seized Property Management Directorate, Canada Revenue Agency, and Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC).

ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime. Members of Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service, Medicine Hat Police Service, and RCMP work in ALERT.

 

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Notices to Media:

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