ALERT seizes over $30,000 in drugs during significant Fort McMurray bust

January 23, 2012

ALERT seizes over $30,000 in drugs during significant Fort McMurray bust

Fort McMurray…The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) concluded a drug trafficking investigation with the arrest of two men and the most significant heroin seizure in Fort McMurray to date.

On January 20, ALERT’s Combined Special Forces Enforcement Unit-Wood Buffalo (CFSEU-Wood Buffalo), with help from Wood Buffalo RCMP, conducted two searches and seized 181 individually packaged points of heroin and 147 OxyContin tablets. If sold on the street, the heroin is valued at over $18,000, while the OxyContin would garner over $14,000. The team also found one ounce of marihuana, over 200 illegal cigarettes and $4,400 cash.

“While this is a significant seizure, ALERT knows there is still much more work to be done,” said CFSEU-Wood Buffalo Sgt. Irv Heide. “Drugs do not only harm users, but they also affect our communities. We will continue to target the people responsible for supplying drugs in our community.”

Denny BROWN, age 30, and Andrew SHEARING, age 28, are each charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, and one count each of possession of a controlled substance, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 and possession of illegal cigarettes.

ALERT wants to remind the public to call its gang information hotline at (780) 788-GANG to report any tips that would assist the police in its crackdown on gang and organized crime activity in the Fort McMurray area. Callers can report information anonymously and the call will be kept strictly confidential. People can also report suspicious activity in their community by contacting police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Made up of RCMP members, CFSEU-Wood Buffalo is an ALERT team funded by the Government of Alberta and the regional municipality of Wood Buffalo. CFSEU-Wood Buffalo works with other ALERT units to tackle serious and organized crime around the province. Over 400 municipal police, RCMP and sheriffs work for ALERT.