Medicine Hat… An ALERT investigation into the southeastern Alberta methamphetamine market has resulted in the seizure of a large amount of drugs, cash, a loaded handgun, and $450,000 worth of stolen property.
The results came as part of a joint investigation between ALERT Medicine Hat’s organized crime team, Medicine Hat Police Service, and RCMP Gleichen. The investigation began in December 2016 and concluded with six search warrants and nine arrests taking place on February 25, 2017.
The search warrants took place at four homes in Strathmore, one in Wheatland County, and at a business in Gleichen with assistance from RCMP Emergency Response Team and RCMP Strathmore. A total of $75,000 in drugs and cash was seized along with an extensive amount of stolen property. Roughly $450,000 worth of stolen property was recovered, including pick-up trucks, trailers, recreation vehicles, and heavy equipment. ALERT alleges that the stolen property was likely being exchanged for drugs.
The following items were seized as result of the search warrants:
ALERT’s investigation was opened in response to community concerns about meth trafficking and associated crime in southeastern Alberta. ALERT believes that this network would have been involved in supplying drugs throughout the region.
At the center of ALERT’s investigation was Craig Coffey, a 41-year-old man from Strathmore. ALERT alleges he facilitated the drug supply and employed a network of drug dealers. Coffey is charged with instructing the commission of an offence for a criminal organization, in addition to 27 other charges related to drugs and stolen property.
Eight associates of Coffey were charged with more than 30 offences:
Warrants have also been issued for the following suspects:
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 Alberta Sheriffs, Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service, Medicine Hat Police Service, and RCMP work in ALERT.
The work we do is about our communities, and that’s why we recognize that residents can be instrumental in tackling serious crime. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a crime, or you suspect criminal activity, please reach out. Your information will remain strictly confidential.
Thank you for helping to make Alberta safer by being actively involved and reporting suspicious activity.
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2024-25
2023-24
2022-23
FILE INTAKES
1,327
1,863
1,392
1,289
5,871
3,815
2,994
SUSPECTS CHARGED
33
41
30
31
135
109
81
CHARGES LAID
164
185
112
116
577
415
351
CHILDREN RESCUED
50
39
48
41
178
203
46
EXHIBITS SEIZED
468
535
427
401
1,831
1,724
1,243
TOTAL PHOTOS/VIDEOS
275,144
725,022
421,057
232,802
1,654,025
2,754,097
2,551,921
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2024-25
2023-24
2022-23
SUSPECTS CHARGED
19
3
22
11
55
34
30
CHARGES LAID
31
17
38
31
117
231
96
VICTIM INTERVENTIONS
55
46
110
57
268
113
28
VICTIM SUPPORTS
43
59
116
67
285
–
–
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2024-25
2023-24
2022-23
INTELLIGENCE REPORTS
303
268
339
343
1,253
1,474
1,560
TRAINING COURSES
12
4
7
7
30
27
36
CANDIDATES TRAINED
215
140
233
364
952
862
933
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2024-25
2023-24
2022-23
SUSPECTS CHARGED
24
31
36
32
123
141
197
CHARGES LAID
129
189
143
160
621
800
1,088
FIREARMS SEIZED
48
41
16
20
125
232
102
EST. VALUE OF DRUGS SEIZED
$3,335,838
$1,021,540
$4,476,809
$1,147,381
$9,981,568
$5,334,163
$10,898,296
PROCEEDS OF CRIME SEIZED
$275,466
$283,758
$1,214,496
$121,518
$1,895,238
$632,294
$1,432,847
ARRESTS
CHARGES
FIREARMS
DRUGS
PROCEEDS
CALGARY
4
14
–
$379,185
$28,455
EDMONTON
3
25
2
$53,235
$15,285
FORT MCMURRAY
2
7
9
$396,730
–
GRANDE PRAIRIE
6
22
–
$7,596
–
LETHBRIDGE
1
8
1
$31,460
$8,670
LLOYDMINSTER
6
29
3
$12,060
$4,978
MEDICINE HAT
7
40
5
$264,805
$35,040
RED DEER
3
15
–
$2,310
–
TOTALS
32
160
20
$1,147,381
$121,518
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2024-25
2023-24
2022-23
SUSPECTS CHARGED
11
3
–
1
15
2
1
CHARGES LAID
78
12
–
2
92
–
11
STOLEN VEHICLES
14
7
3
–
24
45
245
RECOVERED ASSETS
$825,000
$535,000
$250,000
$1,674,250
$3,284,250
$2,741,025
$8,420,500
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2024-25
2023-24
2022-23
FIREARMS EXAMINATIONS
276
250
286
236
1,048
1,178
–
EXHIBIT EXAMINATIONS
1,282
1,099
1,383
1,245
5,009
4,715
–
SERIAL NUMBER RESTORATIONS
18
19
12
18
67
108
–
IBIS SUBMISSIONS
345
355
405
384
1,489
2,402
–
GUN SEIZURES
9
11
6
19
45
15
–
SUSPECTS CHARGED
23
53
43
28
147
26
–
CHARGES LAID
120
128
112
110
505
185
–
Since 2022, CISA has been guided by four pillars that focus the effort to promote an integrated, intelligence-led approach to combating organized crime; these are:
Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta (CISA) has recently developed an Alberta Firearms Intelligence Centre (AFIC) to equitably expand access to firearms intelligence for all law enforcement agencies within Alberta. AFIC will provide timely, accurate, and actionable intelligence to law enforcement agencies and policy-makers to achieve the shared and collaborative goals of increasing public safety concerning firearm-related crimes.
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
FILE INTAKES
680
872
1,149
1,114
3,815
2,994
2,764
SUSPECTS CHARGED
22
16
34
37
109
81
125
CHARGES LAID
87
45
123
160
415
351
413
CHILDREN RESCUED
26
78
56
43
203
46
100
EXHIBITS SEIZED
335
368
545
476
1,724
1,243
1,845
TOTAL PHOTOS/VIDEOS
262,400
511,133
1,374,310
606,254
2,754,097
2,551,921
13,260,819
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
SUSPECTS CHARGED
13
10
7
4
34
30
76
CHARGES LAID
79
46
87
19
231
96
157
VICTIM INTERVENTIONS
30
29
17
37
113
28
22
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
INTELLIGENCE REPORTS
409
296
327
442
1,474
1,560
1,318
TRAINING COURSES
5
3
8
11
27
36
25
CANDIDATES TRAINED
321
56
135
350
862
933
638
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
SUSPECTS CHARGED
40
27
42
32
141
197
168
CHARGES LAID
176
156
237
231
800
1,088
820
FIREARMS SEIZED
105
53
26
48
232
102
126
EST. VALUE OF DRUGS SEIZED
$906,814
$553,851
$2,725,161
$1,148,337
$5,334,163
$10,898,269
$334,093,020
PROCEEDS OF CRIME SEIZED
$218,133
$52,970
$130,996
$230,195
$632,294
$1,432,847
$21,740,617
ARRESTS
CHARGES
FIREARMS
DRUGS
PROCEEDS
CALGARY
24
110
14
$937,422
$65,881
EDMONTON
17
131
45
$592,839
$272,446
FORT MCMURRAY
8
78
4
$352,942
$144,301
GRANDE PRAIRIE
7
17
13
$192,145
$31,855
LETHBRIDGE
7
29
44
$349,773
$51,245
LLOYDMINSTER
24
93
41
$164,134
$12,504
MEDICINE HAT
37
179
13
$293,108
$7,861
RED DEER
17
163
58
$2,451,800
$46,201
TOTALS
141
800
232
$5,334,163
$632,294
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
SUSPECTS CHARGED
1
–
1
–
2
1
10
CHARGES LAID
–
–
–
–
–
11
47
STOLEN VEHICLES
23
15
1
6
45
245
118
RECOVERED ASSETS
$1,432,000
$941,025
$108,000
$260,000
$2,741025
$8,420,500
$3,919,500
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
FIREARMS EXAMINATIONS
349
351
243
235
1,178
–
–
EXHIBIT EXAMINATIONS
1,316
1,409
891
1,099
4,715
–
–
SERIAL NUMBER RESTORATIONS
31
34
19
24
108
–
–
IBIS SUBMISSIONS
343
421
1,334
304
2,402
–
–
GUN SEIZURES
–
–
1
14
15
–
–
SUSPECTS CHARGED
–
–
4
22
26
–
–
CHARGES LAID
–
–
41
144
185
–
–
Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) involves images and/or videos that depict the sexual abuse of minors – the majority of which involve prepubescent children. Often, CSAM involves explicit and/or extreme sexual assaults against the child victim (Cybertip.ca).
Learn more about Internet Child Exploitation and ALERT’s integrated teams combatting this issue.
Ghost Guns are illegal, privately manufactured firearms or lower receivers. These weapons are often made with 3D-printers, and undermine public safety due to their lack of licensing requirements, serialization and safety controls.
Learn more about Ghost Guns on ALERT’s dedicated Privately Manufactured Firearms info page
