Child Endangerment Among Charges Laid in Fort McMurray Investigations

Fort McMurray… Three people have been arrested – including two on charges of child endangerment – and nearly $70,000 worth of drugs and cash have been seized following a pair of investigations by ALERT’s organized crime team in Fort McMurray.

On April 17, 2019, ALERT investigators, with the assistance of Wood Buffalo RCMP, executed a search warrant at a home in the Timberlea subdivision. There, they were able to seize more than $58,000 worth of drugs and cash, including 151 grams of cocaine, 78 grams of MDMA powder, 389 grams of cannabis, and $33,230 in cash proceeds of crime.

Two people were arrested and charged with numerous offenses, including some under Alberta’s Drug Endangered Children Act after a young child was found at the home. Alberta Children’s Services was notified.

ALERT is not providing the names of the accused in this investigation in order to protect the identity of the child. The two people arrested, 32 and 23, have each been charged with:

• possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (x2);
• possession of proceeds of crime;
• possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling without authorization; and
• child endangerment.

In a separate investigation, ALERT executed a search warrant at an apartment building in the Eagle Ridge subdivision on March 29, 2019. In this instance, investigators seized approximately $11,000 worth of drugs and cash, including 100 grams of crack cocaine, 88 grams of a cocaine buffing agent, and $955 in cash proceeds of crime.

Varinder Singh, a 25-year-old man, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime.

Members of the public who suspect drug or gang activity in their community can call local police, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is always anonymous.

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.