Group of 11 Grande Prairie Drug Dealers Charged

Grande Prairie… Eleven suspected Grande Prairie drug dealers have been charged and implicated in a three-month investigation by ALERT, which has resulted in the seizure of nearly a kilogram of cocaine and almost $100,000 cash.

ALERT Grande Prairie concluded their operation on November 19 with the arrest on nine individuals and three search warrants being conducted. ALERT executed search warrants at homes in Wembley, Clairmont and Grande Prairie, and also seized five vehicles. RCMP Grande Prairie and CFSEU-BC members assisted with the investigation.

The investigation resulted in the seizure of 740 grams of cocaine, which were packaged for street-level sales, and $98,890 in cash proceeds of crime. ALERT will pursue civil forfeiture for the cash and vehicles.

“These arrests show the truly borderless nature of criminal activity and clearly demonstrate how all Albertans benefit from the ALERT model,” said Grande Prairie Mayor and ALERT Board member Bill Given.

ALERT alleges that the group was heavily involved in drug trafficking in Grande Prairie, Clarimont, Wembley, Sexsmith, and Edmonton. Two of the accused, Francois Regis Muhire and Kyler Samuel Schwartz, were charged in a similar ALERT investigation in November 2014. ALERT’s focus shifted back on the group in August 2015 when information surfaced that the group had re-engaged their drug trafficking activities.

The group was using rural locations to stash their drugs, and ALERT employed a variety of sophisticated techniques to disrupt their operations.

Nine people have been arrested, and warrants have been issued for two other individuals. A total of 42 criminal charges related to drugs have been laid:

  • Francois Regis Muhire, 24;
  • Kyler Samuel Schwartz, 21;
  • Douglas Gordon Hanks, 27;
  • Tavis Jared MacKinnon, 33;
  • Michael Anthony Teichreb, 24;
  • Kyle Reddick Primo, 28;
  • Thomas Scott McDonald, 26;
  • Kevin Giese, 28;
  • Katelyn Diana Peacock, 21.

All of the accused were release on cash bail and are due back in court on January 6.

Warrants have been issued for the arrest of two suspects. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is encouraged to contact police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

  • Mahamed Abdulle Omer, 28, of Toronto;
  • Kahliid Yusif Proctor, 28, of Toronto.

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 Alberta Sheriffs, Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Lethbridge Regional Police Service, Medicine Hat Police Service, and RCMP work in ALERT.