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Police connect to seize $2 million in cocaine during drug trafficking investigation

Police connect to seize $2 million in cocaine during drug trafficking investigation

Police connect to seize $2 million in cocaine during drug trafficking investigation

April 11, 2012

Calgary…Project Al-Connect, a province-wide drug trafficking investigation, has concluded with several arrests and the seizure of 27.5 kilograms of cocaine, with a street value of nearly $2.5 million.

Members of Calgary’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-Calgary), an integrated team of Calgary Police Service and RCMP investigators, initiated the investigation after receiving information about a group transporting wholesale amounts of cocaine from British Columbia’s lower mainland to the Calgary region. ALERT units from Calgary and Edmonton teamed up to thwart the inter-provincial drug trafficking operation.

In mid-January, police searched the baggage of a passenger arriving at the Calgary International Airport and discovered 12 kilograms of cocaine. At that same time, Edmonton’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-Edmonton), an integrated team of Edmonton Police Service and RCMP investigators, seized 4.7 kilograms of cocaine while searching a vehicle and two residences: a suite on Hammond Gate and a home located in the 9100 block of 68 Avenue.

As well, CFSEU-Edmonton seized over a kilogram of marihuana, a firearm, $12,285 cash, and drug trafficking paraphernalia. The team also discovered a 20-tonne hydraulic press used in the production of cocaine, a rare find that signifies the trafficking operation’s high level of sophistication.

In spite of these seizures, it is alleged that the drug trafficking organization continued their operations with the use of a tractor-trailer unit. In mid-February, a search warrant was executed on the tractor-trailer unit, yielding an additional 11 kilograms of cocaine and $140,000 in cash.

The Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service and CFSEU-British Columbia assisted throughout this investigation.

“The collaboration between law enforcement partners was a key factor in the success of this investigation,” said CFSEU-Calgary’s Inspector Gerry François. “We believe that this organized crime group was in the process of setting up their business here, but we were able to intercede before they established a foot-hold.”

During the Calgary investigation, the following people were charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime:

  • Trieu Minh NGUYEN, a 28-year-old Airdrie resident;
  • Khanh Duy PHAM, a 21-year-old Airdrie resident; and
  • Amir RASHIDINEJAD, a 43-year-old Vancouver resident.

The Edmonton investigation led to 36 charges against three residents:

  • Sean MOORE, age 22;
  • Grant LEWIS, age 29; and
  • Tawnee MIHALCEA, age 21.

Charges include possession for the purpose of trafficking, production of a controlled substance, and a number of firearm-related offences, such as possession of a restricted firearm and possession of a firearm with an altered, defaced or removed serial number.

CFSEU-Calgary and CFSEU-Edmonton are ALERT teams established and funded by the Government of Alberta to bring together the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources to tackle serious and organized crime. Over 400 municipal police, RCMP and sheriffs work for ALERT.

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Media inquiries may be directed to:
Inspector Gerry Francois
CFSEU –Calgary
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
403-428-4701

S/Sgt. Kevin Brezinski
CFSEU-Edmonton
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
780-509-3123

Jill Baird
Communications
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
780-690-1839

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:

  • Building Relationships with Stakeholders;
  • Promote Intel Sharing Across the Province;
  • Being Proactive and Identify Emerging Trends; and
  • Investing in Our People Through Training and Development

 

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.

Protecting Kids Online | Internet Child Exploitation

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

Stopping Human Trafficking | HUMAN TRAFFICKING & COUNTER EXPLOITATION

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

Intelligence & Expertise | CISA / Training

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

Disrupt & Dismantle Organized Crime | Combined Special Forces Enforcement

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

ANNUAL Regional ResultS

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

Organized Property Crimes | Auto Crimes

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

Firearms investigations | Firearms lab & Gang suPpression teams

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