Asset 1ALERT-Wide-White

Project Maverick Dismantles Cocaine Trafficking Network

Project Maverick Dismantles Cocaine Trafficking Network

Medicine Hat… A Medicine Hat-based cocaine trafficking network has been dismantled following a lengthy and complex investigation by ALERT.

Project Maverick has resulted in charges against 10 suspects and the seizure of roughly $200,000 worth of drugs, cash proceeds of crime, and property obtained by crime. Fourteen firearms were also seized.

Arrests took place November 15 and 16, 2018, with assistance from Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS). The MHPS along with Redcliff RCMP, Brooks RCMP, Taber Police Service, Calgary Police Service, and Edmonton Police Service provided assistance with Project Maverick.

At the core of the investigation were three men who ALERT alleges conspired to traffic cocaine through Medicine Hat and surrounding communities. Derec Trekofski, Ian Gabriel and Sean Engel have been charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine and offences related to participating in a criminal organization.

Trekofski was allegedly at the top of the network and has subsequently been charged with instructing a criminal organization. The 27-year-old man from Medicine Hat has drug trafficking convictions as the result of previous ALERT investigations. He is scheduled to appear in court on December 20.

Project Maverick began in December 2017 based on criminal intelligence related to drug trafficking activity.

During the course of the investigation three homes were searched, including two in Medicine Hat and one in Redcliff. The following items were seized as the result of Project Maverick:

  • 1.1 kilograms of cocaine;
  • 10 rifles;
  • 2 handguns;
  • 2 shotguns;
  • 3 prohibited magazines;
  • thousands of rounds of ammunition;
  • 8,800 contraband cigarettes;
  • $9,200 in recovered stolen property;
  • $17,000 in property obtained by crime; and
  • $53,700 cash proceeds of crime.

 

The suspects face a total of 60 charges:

  • Derec Trekofski, a 27-year-old man from Medicine Hat;
  • Sean Engel, a 28-year-old man from Redcliff;
  • Ian Gabriel, a 29-year-old man from Medicine Hat;
  • Krystal Chin, a 26-year-old woman from Medicine Hat;
  • Kerry Denis, a 53-year-old man from Leoville, Sask;
  • Mitchell Wasiliew, a 29-year-old man from Medicine Hat;
  • Trenton Holmstrom, a 29-year-old man from Medicine Hat;
  • Justin Allen, a 32-year-old man from Redcliff;
  • Kristen Allen, a 30-year-old woman from Redcliff; and
  • Ethan Tough, a 28-year-old man from Medicine Hat.

 

Gabriel and Tough could not be located and warrants have been issued for their arrest.

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.

-30-

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