Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams
2022-23 Annual Report
Covering the reporting period of
April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023
ALERT was established by the provincial government in 2006 to bring
together the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources to
combat organized and serious crime. Integrated teams specialize in the areas
of organized crime and gangs, online child exploitation, criminal intelligence,
and law enforcement training. Over 400 police and civilian staff work together,
and are based in eight communities across the province.
A Letter from our CEO & Minister
Executive Statement
Working in every corner of the province, our specialized teams arrested 309 offenders and laid 1,548 charges in relation to organized crime, drug trafficking, firearms offences, child exploitation, human trafficking – tackling some of the most complex crime threats in Alberta.
ALERT’s integrated model is like no other in the country and this approach has fostered a legacy of successful investigations.
– Supt. Marc Cochlin
ALERT CEO
As Alberta’s government, we want every individual in this province to feel safe and secure, no matter which community they choose to call home.
This requires dedication, vigilance, and adaptability to ensure the province’s law enforcement agencies are one step ahead of the gangs and organized crime groups that threaten the well-being of Alberta communities and neighbourhoods.
– Minister Mike Ellis
Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services
Partnerships
ALERT’s co-operative approach to policing has proven to be an extremely successful model, especially as the criminal landscape evolves and pushes beyond local and regional boundaries. ALERT is a non-profit agency that is governed by a Board of Directors and an appointed Chief Executive Officer. This unique designation allows ALERT to remain arm’s length from the provincial government. A Civilian Advisory Committee also provides an enhanced opportunity for community engagement and stakeholder relations.
Board of Directors
Chief Graham Abela | Taber Police Service
Chief Keith Blake | Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service
Chief Lorne Blumhagen | Lacombe Police Service
Acting Chief Grant Buckskin | Blood Tribe Police Service
Chief Dale Cox | Lakeshore Regional Police Service
Chief Dean LaGrange | Camrose Police Service
Chief Dale McFee | Edmonton Police Service
Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh | Lethbridge Police Service
Chief Alan Murphy | Medicine Hat Police Service
Chief Mark Neufeld | Calgary Police Service
Chief Farooq Sheikh | Alberta Sheriffs
D/Commr. Curtis Zablocki | RCMP “K” Division
ADM Marlin Degrand | Alberta Justice & Solicitor General
Civilian Advisory CommiTTEE
Doug Rodwell, Vice-Chair | City of Lloydminster
Marilyn North Peigan | Calgary Police Commission
Ken McMullen | Red Deer Protective Services
Violet Megunis | Tsuut’ina Police Commission
Shazia Amiri | Edmonton Police Commission
John McDonald | Taber Municipal Police Commission
Peter Brown | City of Airdrie
Kara Westerlund | Brazeau County
Methamphetamine
Illegal Handguns
PROJECT SUCCESSES 2022-23
$55 MILLION:
Project Cobra
Project Cobra is a nearly three-year organized crime investigation into transnational drug importation, drug trafficking, and money laundering. More than an estimated $55 million worth of methamphetamine and cocaine has been seized following this cross-border investigation by ALERT, RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. As the result of enforcement initiatives on both sides of the border, 928 kilograms of methamphetamine and 6 kilograms of cocaine were intercepted. In addition, approximately $7 million worth of assets have been seized or placed under criminal restraint.
Total quantity of seized
methamphetamine
$7 Million in
restrained/seized assets
Firearms (handguns, rifles, submachine guns, suppressors)
individuals and 1 business
Project Carlos is an investigation led by ALERT Calgary’s organized crime team with more than $4.5 million worth of drugs and nearly $1 million in cash seized throughout the city.
Over $4.5 million in seized drugs (cocaine, ketamine, meth, fentanyl and others)
ALERT’s Project Radar resulted in the seizure of $335,000 worth of drugs including fentanyl and meth, in Red Deer and Lloydminster. Three suspects were charged.
Approximate value of seized drugs including methamphetamine and fentanyl
Project Frontier was a 14-month investigation led by ALERT’s Fort McMurray organized crime team resulting in the seizure of roughly $500,000 in drugs and cash.
Approximate value of seizure (methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, cash)
Drug Trafficking | Criminal Networks
DISRUPT & DISMANTLE ORGANIZED CRIME
$10,898,269
EST. VALUE – SEIZED DRUGs (2022-23)[5]
$2,178,497
Estimated value of seized fentanyl (2022-23)
$3,031,821
Estimated value of seized methamphetamine (2022-23)
ALERT is always looking to expand the scope of investigations and move up the food chain. We rely on criminal intelligence from our partner agencies to collaboratively dismantle these types of multi-jurisdictional drug networks.
– Acting Inspector Blayne Eliuk, ALERT Edmonton
CFSEU CRIMINAL NETWORK STATS 2022-23
Arrests (2022-23)
Charges (2022-23)
Firearms Seized (2022-23)
Proceeds of Crime (2022-23)
Seizure Substance Breakdown (Street Value; 2022-23)
ALERT CFSEU Trends
DISRUPTING & DISMANTLING ORGANIZED CRIME
FIREARMS
In Alberta, criminal organizations perpetrate serious and violent crime. Firearms are an integral part of organized criminal activity. Without firearm trafficking, it’s more difficult for criminals to obtain a firearm for the purpose of committing illegal activities. ALERT teams work together with our partner agencies to tackle and disrupt emerging trends, such as 3D-printed firearms (“ghost guns”). Our integrated model allows for quick adaptation to these emerging trends to keep communities safe in Alberta. We also continue to investigate traditional trafficking, such as straw purchasing, theft, and smuggling – which often go hand-in-hand with drug or human trafficking.
Firearm Seizures (2022-23)
3D printed firearms recklessly circumvent the lawful process of firearms possession and fly in the face of law-abiding firearms owners. As technology evolves, ALERT and our policing partners will remain steadfast in responding to emerging trends to keep Alberta communities safe.
– Staff Sgt. Leon Borbandy, ALERT Lethbridge
A MAC-10 submachine gun was amongst three firearms seized by ALERT Edmonton's organized crime team in relation to an address associated with drug trafficking. The MAC-10 is prohibited in Canada and the United States and fires 1,200 rounds per minute.
3D printers and firearms in various stages of completion were seized following an investigation into firearms manufacturing. ALERT worked with Vulcan RCMP, Lethbridge Police, and the RCMP’s National Weapons Enforcement Support Team.
Crossbows, rifles, shotguns, ammunition anda 2013 Polaris RZR 900 have been seized from a home in Cypress County following an investigation into stolen property by ALERT Medicine Hat’s regional property crime unit, working with MHPS and Redcliff RCMP.
Internet Child Exploitation
Protecting Kids Online
2,994
Case File Intakes (2022-23)
The person sitting behind the computer screen, the extorter, is looking for financial gain. Boys will send a picture or video and immediately get a message back saying, 'thanks for the picture, but now I want money'. We need our children and our teens to understand the dangers of sending these pictures and videos to strangers online so we can stop the cycle. But we also need them to know that we're here to help.
– Det. Dean Jacobs, ICE South
ICE Forensic Technicians, our Criminal Analyst and investigators have discovered thousands of videos and images that depict upwards of potentially 100 additional, unidentified victims of child luring and sexual assault.
ICE executed a search warrant at a home in Airdrie. Investigators were led to the home after receiving information about an unknown suspect uploading suspected child sexual exploitation materials via social media platforms.
ICE rescued a child on February 4, 2023 after entering the home under exigent circumstances. A tip from the FBI, received less than 48 hours earlier, detailed alleged prolific and ongoing sexual abuse of a young child in Alberta.
Cases On the Rise
Over the past five years, ALERT ICE file intakes have increased by over 185%. ICE units work non-stop to combat online predators in some of the most demanding cases involving minor victims – from toddlers to teenagers. Throughout Canada, an 815% increase was observed in reported online sexual luring targeting Canadian children, in the last five years.[4] ALERT leverages combined and collaborative effort through its integrated model to swiftly investigate online child sex offenders. Using cutting-edge technology specific to this domain of judicial work, and pooling resources through multi-jurisdiction cases, our ICE teams are able to overcome the internet-based challenges of counter-exploitation work to keep children and youth in Alberta safe.
While we continue to work hard and expand our resources to combat Internet Child Exploitation, you can help too – knowledge is power:
(Quantity; 2022-23)
CSAM Photos/Videos
(Total; 2018-Present)
↑ Increase in file intakes
(case referrals; over past year)
↑ Increase in file intakes
(case referrals; over past 5 years)
HUMAN TRAFFICKING & Counter Exploitation
STOPPING HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Arrests (2022-23)
Charges (2022-23)
Victim Interventions (2022-23)
Agency Assists (2020-present)
Human trafficking is an industry that operates in the shadows and I believe there’s a general naivety about its presence and impact in our communities. ALERT is committed to targeting perpetrators, but more importantly, equipping survivors and loved ones with the resources needed to escape.
– Staff Sergeant Chris Hayes, Human Trafficking
Two suspects have been charged with 17 new criminal offences relating to the human trafficking of a 16-year old. A third suspect, David Tom, has also been charged.
ALERT Human Trafficking and Counter Exploitation unit has obtained a Canada-wide warrant for a suspect who was allegedly involved in sex trafficking a 12-year-old girl.
A search warrant was executed and a man suspected of recruiting and exploiting multiple women is facing numerous charges, including human trafficking and sexual assault.
Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta | Training
Intelligence & Expertise
CISA was able to identify potential opportunities to formalize analytical support and services for the First Nation police services. We will continue to work towards ensuring authentic and appropriate intelligence services are provided to meet the unique needs of their communities.
– Insp. Paul Gregory, Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta
4,664
intelligence queries, packages & reports to support Operations & Investigations (2022-23)
Detailed persons or locations background history packages to support investigations
Presentations on online safety conducted by ICE
Training
(2022-23)
(2022-23)
DISRUPTING & DISMANTLING ORGANIZED CRIME
FINANCIAL CRIMES
Seized Proceeds of Crime (2022-23)
Project Collector took the cash of crime. And we just closed the accounts of some of Canada’s largest organized crime groups.
– Insp. Jason Bobrowich, ALERT Calgary
Civil Forfeiture
In October, ALERT welcomed a Civil Forfeiture Liaison Officer responsible for identifying and facilitating suitable referrals to the Alberta Civil Forfeiture Office in coordination with investigating officers. Forfeited cash, vehicles, and property can be used by the government to fund grants for community programs to support victims of crime and help prevent crime.
More than $10,000 encrypted on a USB device and seized from a Red Deer crack dealer was successfully forfeited to the province
Nearly $20,000 obtained through sex trafficking a 16-year-old Edmonton-area victim is pending a civil forfeiture application
In one of Lethbridge’s largest drug busts, over $60,000 in bank notes was seized and has been submitted to civil forfeiture office for review
Auto crimes | Regional Property Crimes
Organized property Crimes
ALERT combats organized property theft through two units, our Auto Crimes team and Regional Property Crimes team. Whether vehicle theft, metal theft, equipment theft, or break and enter, many cases are tied to organized crime, drug trafficking and/or involve firearms. ALERT works continuously with our partner agencies to stop these offences, return stolen property to their rightful owners, and keep Albertans safe.
Several stolen vehicles have been recovered and one man is facing charges following an ALERT investigation in southern Alberta. ALERT Medicine Hat’s regional property crime unit began their investigation into a rash of regional vehicle thefts in early December.
Various firearms and weapons have been seized from a home in Cypress County following an investigation into stolen property by ALERT Medicine Hat’s regional property crime unit. In December 2022, ALERT began investigating a report of a stolen recreational vehicle and trailer. The theft occurred in the Redcliff area.
A prolific break and enter suspect is facing charges following a string of break-ins in southeast Alberta. ALERT Medicine Hat’s began investigating the break-ins in November 2022 after receiving numerous reports from local businesses.
Corporate Statistical & Financial
Summary
Revenue Sources
Positions
Alberta Government grants provide funding for the majority of ALERT positions. Sworn members from our municipal/regional partner agencies and RCMP form the majority of investigative teams, complemented by civilian support staff in crucial roles to fulfill our operational mandates and administration.
Partner Contributed
ALERT-funded
Total Positions
Positions by agency
Agency
Positions
Agency
Positions
Alberta Sherrifs
17
Medicine Hat Police Service
20
Blood Tribe Police
1
RCMP
165
Calgary Police
57
RCMP Federal & FSOC
13
Camrose Police
1
RCMP Municipal
16
Edmonton Police
86
Taber Police
1
Lacombe Police
1
Tsuut’ina Nation Police
1
Lethbridge
11
ALERT Corporate
41
Statistical Summary
Expand this view to explore condensed data tables that encompass the contents of this annual report.
[1] Health Canada Drug Analysis Services. Sample Analysis Identifications reflect Alberta data as assessed by Health Canada DAS. Analyzed samples may not be representative of substances circulating on the market as a number of factors may influence substances submitted by Canadian law enforcement agencies and reporting, such as increased awareness of substances and law enforcement capacities and priorities. Learn More.
[2] Alberta substance use surveillance system. Alberta data includes unintentional accute drug poisoning deaths that have been certified by the Medical Examiner, and any apparent unintentional fentanyl related deaths. Apparent fentanyl related deaths have identified fentanyl in toxicology and the initial circumstances point to a likely drug poisoning death. Several deaths in more recent years are currently under investigation by the Medical Examiner. Therefore, more recent data will be less complete for non-fentanyl related drug deaths. Drug categories are not mutually exclusive. Multiple substances can contribute in one death. Non-pharmaceutical Opioids are defined as “Fentanyl (and analogues), heroin, designer opiate (i.e. U-4470).” Learn more.
[3] Data provided by outside agency. ALERT takes no responsibility for accuracy/reliability of data. Data is included to illustrate trends, not to reflect specific occurrences. Reporting limitations: it may not be appropriate to extrapolate data as representative to explain criminal activity prevalence, as true figures may in fact be lower or higher.
[4] Cybertip.ca (Canadian Centre for Child Protection). Learn more.
[5] ALERT drug seizure quantities are reported into ALERT totals upon seizure, which may not be at the same time (or financial reporting year) as when the seizure is publicly reported/released. Therefore, discrepancies may exist between financial or quantity amount of an individual seizure as indicated in any ALERT news release project/operation summary, and the totals indicated for the financial year.
[6] Other – includes Buffing Agent, Carfentanil, GHB, Hash Oil, Heroin, Illicit Prescription Drugs, Ketamine, LSD, Morphine, Oxycodone, Psilocybin (mushrooms), Trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP)/Benzylpiperazine (BZP).
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams Annual Report (2022-23). Copyright © 2023 Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams. All Rights Reserved.
