Top Stories of the Year

It was another banner year for ALERT in its efforts to create safer communities across Alberta. From Cold Lake to Beaverlodge, and from Fort McMurray to Crowsnest Pass, ALERT provided assistance to communities big and small across the province alongside our partner agencies to disrupt and dismantle serious and organized crime.

Below are some of the highlights ALERT accomplished this past year:

Operation ICE Storm II Results in Arrests of Child Porn Offenders
Sept. 14, 2015 – ICE Storm II was a proactive peer-to-peer investigation that netted 8 high-level targets who had vast collections of child porn. Over 100,000 photos and videos of child sex abuse were identified within the 85 computers and electronic devices seized, representing 14 terabytes of information. WATCH VIDEO

Grande Prairie Real Estate Developer Lands in Court with Accused Drug Trafficker
August 6, 2015 – A Grande Prairie man tied to one of the city’s largest drug seizures now faces additional charges related to money laundering. Mark Phillips forfeited his half million-dollar home after it was deemed to be aquired through drug trafficking profits. Grande Prairie real estate developer John Nagra and Studio Homes Ltd. have been implicated in the fraud.

High-Powered Guns Seized from Edmonton Drug Dealers
August 27, 2015 – A weapons arsenal that included carbines, handguns, silencers, and thousands of rounds of ammunition was seized alongside $100,000 worth of drugs in Edmonton. One of the guns seized, a Glock handgun, was illegally converted to fully automatic. The principal target of the investigation, Tyson Willier, was previously charged with attempted murder. WATCH VIDEO

Over $1 Million in Drugs Seized in Fort McMurray Investigation
June 9, 2015 – An investigation that dated back to April 2013 concluded in Fort McMurray with the arrest of seven individuals. The investigation targeted the cocaine and fentanyl trafficking networks of Jason Mulley and Patrick Felix. This complex investigation resulted in over $1 million worth of drugs and proceeds of crime seized, and required the use of several sophisticated investigative techniques. WATCH VIDEO

Medicine Hat Meth Market Takes a Hit; 12 Dealers Charged
June 24, 2015 – Twelve suspected methamphetamine dealers in Medicine Hat have been charged following a targeted investigation. The investigation was initiated in response to community concerns over street-level drug sales of meth and its link to several files where violence and irrational behavior have occurred.

Cartel-Connected Fugitive Extradited from Lethbridge to U.S.
May 14, 2015 – Javier Batista Cervantes and Armondo Chavez have been extradited to the United States for his role in a cocaine importation investigation. Cervantes and Chavez were indicted, along with five others, in 2010 for the importation of cocaine from Mexico into Lethbridge.

ALERT Helps Implement New Safety Protocol in Edmonton Schools
May 11, 2015 – Threat and Risk Assessment Centre helped launch Edmonton’s Community Threat Response and Intervention Support Protocol (C-TRISP) to share the details of an identified threat, to collaborate effectively, and to make use of a broad range of expertise in order to prevent and reduce imminent violence in schools and communities.

Stolen Firearms Recovered in Red Deer Highlight Growing Crime Trend
January 29, 2015 – An ALERT investigation in Red Deer led to the recovery of 16 firearms, which are believed to have been stolen. The guns are believed to be stolen from homes throughout Red Deer and Central Alberta, and highlight a growing Alberta trend of crime guns being acquired through residential and commercial break and enters. WATCH VIDEO

One of Province’s Largest Grow-ops Shutdown in Stettler
October 29, 2015 – A joint investigation between ALERT and Stettler RCMP has uncovered one of the largest illegal marihuana grow-ops in the province. With a plant count of 3,284, the grow-op has an estimated street value of nearly $4 million. The grow-op is the one of the largest indoor grow-ops ever encountered by ALERT’s Green Team. WATCH VIDEO

Calgary Crime Group Hit with $5 million Drug Seizure
February 12, 2015 – ALERT’s largest cocaine, fentanyl, and cash seizures came following a year-long investigation into a Calgary organized crime group. More than 40 kilograms of cocaine, 11,597 fentanyl pills, and $600,000 cash proceeds of crime were seized following the execution of seven search warrants. Twelve people were arrested in the bust valued at $5-million.

North East Calgary Drug Den Closed
March 27, 2015 – Neighbourhood residents applauded a SCAN closure in the Marlborough Park area. Prior to closure, CPS had been called to the residence 27 times since the SCAN investigation got underway. Three of those calls were related to suspected overdose deaths, and in December 2014 a search of the home found heroin, drug paraphernalia, and stolen property.