Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams
2023/24 Annual Report
A Message From
Executive & Government
Superintendent
Chief Executive Officer – Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams
Deputy Premier
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services – Province of Alberta
“ALERT continues to triumph with success in relation to disrupting and dismantling organized and serious crime across the province. This past fiscal year, 2023-24 our specialized teams arrested 310 offenders and laid 1,631 charges in relation to organized crime, drug trafficking, firearms offences, child exploitation, human trafficking.
Every community in the province is impacted by organized crime. That is why it is integral our dedicated teams span across Alberta and work collaboratively with our partner agencies and various stakeholders to investigate and prosecute these complex crime threats.”
– Supt. Marc Cochlin, ALERT CEO
“Since 2006, Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) has played a crucial role in protecting Albertans and their families. ALERT investigators across Alberta work tirelessly to protect our streets from persistent threats posed by organized crime, illegal drugs and human trafficking. We salute their selfless commitment to maintaining safe streets and communities, and I express deep gratitude for their ongoing service on behalf of all Albertans.
In Budget 2024, Alberta’s government announced more than $4 million in funding for ALERT to help combat drug trafficking and related gang activity. These expert teams work to pursue criminals and root out drug trafficking and organized crime through an integrated approach that brings together investigators from the province’s police services.
Provincial funding increases since 2019 have added sworn member positions and increased operational capacity to support record-setting seizures of illicit drugs and cash in recent years, including one of the largest in our province’s history last November.”
– Hon. Mike Ellis, Deputy Premier of Alberta, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services
Partnering to Keep Alberta Safe
AREAS OF WORK
ALERT Disrupts and dismantles complex organized crime and gang activity.
Explore
Combined Special Forces Enforcement Units are spread across the province in the communities of Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, and Red Deer. These integrated teams disrupt and dismantle organized crime, such as drug networks, gang activity, firearms straw-purchasing, and large-scale financial crimes.
ALERT Enhances strategic & tactical intelligence while providing expertise to partner agencies.
Explore
Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta acts as a central hub for strategic analysis and intelligence sharing on organized and serious crime and emerging trends in Alberta.
Training provides policing personnel with the expertise required to successfully investigate serious and organized crime, thereby enhancing capacity of law enforcement across the province.
ALERT Protects Alberta's children from the most dangerous online predators with local to international partners.
Explore
Internet Child Exploitation is an integrated team that investigates the online distribution and making of child sexual abuse materials, online child luring and sextortion, and voyeurism involving victims under the age of 18 through electronic means.
ALERT Intervenes in auto crimes perpetrated by criminal organizations impacting every-day Albertans.
Explore
Auto Crimes integrated units work with industry partners, such as Insurance Bureau of Canada and Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council, to provide a coordinated response to auto theft. Working collaboratively with available intelligence to execute complex investigations into these high-level groups.
ALERT Suppresses human sex trafficking and rescues victims from exploitation.
Explore
Human Trafficking & Counter Exploitation investigates domestic human trafficking involving sexual exploitation occurring in Alberta. The integrated unit also works in collaboration with agencies and organizations involved in rescuing and supporting survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
ALERT facilitates the Provincial Firearms Solutions Lab and uniformed Gang Suppression Teams.
Explore
Provincial Firearms Solutions Lab is a made-in-Alberta response to combating firearms and gang violence by providing best evidence to police and prosecutors to secure convictions on firearms offences.
Firearms Investigations and Gang Suppression Teams were stood up by the Calgary Police Service and the Edmonton Police Service to further support activities aimed at suppressing firearms-related violence in the province. These units remain in situ with their respective agencies while being funded by ALERT.
Partner Agencies • Governance & Oversight
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.
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.
In Focus: Firearms – This year ALERT saw a near record number of firearm seizures, highlighting the established connection between firearms, violence, and organized criminal activity such as gangs, drug trafficking and human sex trafficking. Powerful weapons were seized from criminals in the province during Project Reproduction, Project Reef, Operation Mojo, and during Red Deer’s Largest Drug Seizure. These include 3D-printed “ghost guns,” an evolving phenomenon that continues to place communities in Alberta at risk of firearm-related violence.
“By employing a three-pronged approach, combining criminal intelligence, enforcement strategies, and expert forensic analysis, ALERT is having success combatting firearms offences.”
– Insp. Brad Lundeen, CFSEU Regional
To continue leading in the suppression of firearm trafficking, ALERT hosted the Firearms Investigations and Prosecutions Conference, providing opportunity for partner agencies, investigators and prosecutors to connect, share best practices, and stay on top of emerging issues at local, national and international levels. We also welcomed CBC’s The National to our Provincial Firearms Solutions Lab to get an exclusive look at the issues law enforcement agencies are currently facing with 3D-printed firearms.
Keeping
Alberta
Communities
Safe
Investigations • Projects
SUCCESS HIGHLIGHTS
More than $2 million worth of drugs and cash has been seized in Red Deer. The seizure is believed to be the city’s largest as represented by the large amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine, along with nine firearms.
of Seized Drugs
Operation ICE Storm 5 prioritized child exploitation suspects with large collections of the most graphic CSAM. ALERT arrested 8 high-level targets in southern Alberta and the seizure of over 35 computers/devices.
Operation Mojo searched 6 homes yielding $65,000 in methamphetamine, cocaine and illicit perscription pills, $2000 cash and two 3D-printed handguns. ALERT also seized two vehicles as offence-related property.
of Seized Drugs
ALERT'S Unit/Team Results
Performance Metrics
Organized Crime (Drugs, Firearms & Proceeds of Crime)
ALERT leverages its integrated model, in tandem with partners nationally and internationally to dismantle and disrupt serious and organized crime in a co-ordinated and collaborative manner. This year, ALERT’s integrated approach saw significant success in the removal of 232 firearms from the hands of organized crime. Complementing this record, ALERT also removed over $5 Million in illicit drugs from our streets – often at the same time as firearm seizures, reinforcing the interconnected nature of drug trafficking and firearm violence, staple to organized crime and gang activity.
“Organized crime doesn’t care about the health of a community; they are motivated by profit. Unfortunately, these costs are downloaded onto society through addiction issues, shooting events, and property crimes.”
– Insp. Matt Baker, CFSEU Calgary
Total Combined Drug Seizures (Historical)
No Data Found
This Year’s Seizures (Substance)
No Data Found
(ALERT; historical)
No Data Found
(rate – victims per 100,000 population)[2][3]
No Data Found
Suspects Charged (historical)
No Data Found
Charges Laid (historical)
No Data Found
In Alberta, financial crime is real – proceeds of crime are the financial gains from illegal activities such as human trafficking, drug production/trafficking, firearm trafficking and other criminal activity.
Organized crime nominees, proceeds of crime and money laundering undermine Alberta’s economy and contribute to violence in our communities. Financial crime is an unavoidable step in all criminal markets to legitimize earnings, run operations, and live an illicitly profitable life.
No Data Found
Internet Child Exploitation
ALERT’s ICE (Internet Child Exploitation) teams investigate a range of criminal offences involving the sexual exploitation of children over the internet. ALERT’s ICE units are among the most robust and sophisticated police units in the country – since 2018 alone, we’ve processed over 20,500,000 CSAM photos/videos. This year, we broke record taking in over 3,000 case files and actively rescuing 203 children across Alberta being abused and exploited by dangerous predators.
(Current Reporting Year)
Increase in File Intakes (Previous vs. Current Year)
“Unfortunately there’s been a marked increase in the egregiousness of the material that is coming through our office, and in a general sense, the material is getting worse from what we’re looking at – up to and including abuse material where the child ends up becoming the victim of a homicide at the end.”
– S/Sgt. Jonathan Morrison, ALERT Internet Child Exploitation
ALERT will continue to be relentless in the suppression of these activities and the pursuit of these offenders, leveraging the effectiveness of our integrated policing model, made possible by the Government of Alberta.
Case File Trends (intakes/referrals over time)
No Data Found
“Every day, thousands of Child Sexual Abuse images and videos are being viewed, downloaded, and shared throughout the province.” Forensic analysis in this operation alone has already identified upwards of 700,000 instances Child Sexual Abuse Material – “young innocent children, some as young as six months of age… many of these files depict extreme sexual abuse.”
– Det. Justin Brookes, ALERT Internet Child Exploitation
Exhibits (computers, phones, tablets, gaming devices, etc.)
No Data Found
(2023-24)
Child Sexual Abuse Material (images/videos)
No Data Found
Child Sexual Abuse Material Files Processed
(2018-Present)
ICE Offenders
No Data Found
ICE Suspects Charged
(2023-24)
“The transmission, possession of, or even looking at Child Sexual Abuse Material is an offence in of itself because the offender is re-victimizing the child. The child may have been identified; may have received support; may even be an adult, however, it does not mitigate the fact that child was offended against. These people are continuing to pleasure themselves at the expense of another human being – in this case a child.”
– Sgt. Kerry Shima, ALERT Internet Child Exploitation
I Hunt The Evil
You Pretend
Doesn't
Exist
– Allen LaFontaine, ALERT ICE Forensic Examiner
Child Rescues (historical)
No Data Found
Children Rescued by ICE (2023-24)
Human Trafficking
Human Trafficking isn’t what it’s commonly made out to be. Would you spot the signs? ALERT Counter-Exploitation teams work to identify and suppress sex trafficking, and support victims of this manipulative and violent criminal activity. Sex traffickers will often use “romeo-pimp” tactics (love schemes) to lure vulnerable individuals, a process that can begin online. Elements of coercive control, emotional/psychological manipulation, and physical or sexual abuse are intertwined to create a trauma bond between a trafficker and their victim(s).
Victim Interventions
(2023-24)
Intervention Increase
(Previous vs. Current Year)
“A notable trend our team has observed is that the victims are getting younger and younger and the mass of people buying sex is outrageously apparent in Alberta and it’s something that we’re all working together to combat.”
– Insp. Angela Kemp, CFSEU Edmonton
ALERT works in collaboration with national, provincial and municipal agencies, and non-governmental organizations involved in rescuing and supporting survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Suspects Charged (historical)
No Data Found
Charges (historical)
No Data Found
Victim Interventions (historical)
No Data Found
Intelligence
CISA also has a variety of tactical services, such as conducting background queries to support investigations; social network analysis; identifying key facilitators of organized crime (and organized crime groups); capturing provincial data associated to gun and gang activity; an in-house pharmacologist; the ACIIS program; and additional criminal market focus (e.g., the provincial scrap metal intelligence unit).
“The key to combatting organized crime is intelligence-led policing. By cultivating and sharing criminal intelligence, our analysts can assist with target identification and be responsive to emerging crime trends”
– Insp. Paul Gregory, Bureau Director CISA
Training
ALERT’s training section enhances law enforcement capacity by providing relevant and specialized courses and learning opportunities in the area of serious and organized crime.
“Organized crime investigations are increasingly complex. The comprehensive training programs developed by and offered through ALERT Training are integral to ensuring our members are equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully undertake complex organized crime investigations.”
– Leila Andrews, Training Manager
Training Courses
(2023-24)
Candidates Trained
(2023-24)
In June 2023, ALERT hosted the Firearms Investigations and Prosecutions Conference. ALERT facilitated an opportunity for over 200 attendees from 30 agencies (law enforcement, crown prosecution, government) to network and innovate while learning about the latest trends in firearms trafficking, and the resulting investigations and prosecutions – methods, challenges and successes.
Firearms Lab & Gang Suppression Teams
Firearm Examinations
(2023-24)
Charges Laid
(IGET, 2023-24)
“Combating gang violence and getting crime guns off the street relies on a whole system of supports beyond enforcement strategies, including training opportunities, technical supports disclosure, and forensic analysis via our lab. ALERT brings together these key elements and is a recognized leader in these areas.”
– Blayne Eliuk, Director of Technology and Investigative Supports
Firearm Examinations
(2023-24)
Exhibit Examinations
(2023-24)
Serial Number Restorations
(2023-24)
IBIS Submissions
(2023-24)
(2023-24)
Suspects Charged
(2023-24)
Charges Laid
(2023-24)
Over the past year, ALERT has significantly increased community outreach via social media and online platforms. Our goal is to leverage modern technology and the interactive platforms Albertans use every day to deliver the latest information in line with ALERT news releases. Using intelligence and observed investigational trends, along with data from our partners, we’ve also developed targeted public safety campaigns to raise awareness on emerging issues among specific population segments in the province. This year, we ran a major, award-winning campaign in collaboration with DDB Canada to educate youth about sextortion – aligned with ALERT’s ICE units. We also produced two smaller, in-house campaigns aligned with our Human Trafficking and Firearm areas of work, targeting relevant segments with public safety awareness on online sex trafficking recruitment and legal awareness on 3D-printed firearms production.
ALERT Web Traffic
New Website Visitors (direct/referral/organic)
Funding • Budget • Operations
Financial Summary
“ALERT’s robust response to serious and organized crime is made possible through continued funding support by the Alberta Government through the RCMP’s Provincial Police Service Agreement. Sustainable funding allowed us to enhance specialized and corporate supports to ensure ALERT’s proactive response to emerging crime trends all whilst being fiscally responsible and keeping our communities safe.”
– S/Sgt. Gibson, Corporate Services Officer
Operating Budget
(2023-24)
Positions
No Data Found
No Data Found
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The Data is Not Available
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The Data is Not Available
[1] “Other Substances” is the cumulative estimated street value of all other drugs (not listed) seized by ALERT in the reporting period. This includes: MDMA (Ecstasy), Psilocybin (mushrooms), Phenacetin, Oxycodone, Cannabis, Cannabis Resin, Steroids, Morphine, Percocet, Tobacco, LSD, Trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP) / Benzylpiperazine (BZP).
[2] 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.
[3] Statistics Canada: Number, percentage and rate of gang-related homicide victims – learn more.
