Cocaine trafficking network stretched across the province

Grande Prairie/Calgary… ALERT has arrested five suspects following a cocaine trafficking investigation that connected Grande Prairie and Calgary. More than 500 grams of cocaine and 1,000 grams of a suspected buffing agent were seized.

ALERT organized crime teams from Grande Prairie and Calgary coordinated to make the arrests on October 27, 2021. A motel room in Grande Prairie was searched and three Calgary homes were searched with the help of Grande Prairie RCMP and Calgary Police Service, respectively.

The eight-month investigation linked Grande Prairie-based drug dealers to a supply network in Calgary.

“Drug dealers aren’t bound to municipal borders; they threaten all communities indiscriminately. In this case, ALERT teams were able to share intelligence and deliver a coordinated response.”

Inspector sean boser, alert regional teams

ALERT seized an estimated $65,000 worth of drugs, with the combined totals including:

  • 571 grams of cocaine;
  • 1,094 grams of a suspected buffing agent;
  • 15 oxycodone pills;
  • 3 grams of heroin;
  • $4,390 cash

Five suspects face charges related to drug trafficking:

  • Arbaaz Karachiwilla, 26-year-old from Grande Prairie;
  • Shayne Bellam, 27-year-old from Grande Prairie;
  • Spencer Cummings, 37-year-old from Calgary;
  • Jaryd Spence, 32-year-old from Calgary; and
  • Christopher Cove, 36-year-old from Calgary.

ALERT expects to lay charge against additional suspects.