News Release from ALERT (Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team)

One million dollars’ worth of drugs was seized, along with multiple firearms, in an ALERT investigation that spread across northern Alberta.

On November 2, 2021 ALERT Edmonton’s organized crime and gang team executed multiple search warrants in effort to disrupt an intraprovincial drug trafficking network. Three homes in Edmonton were searched and targeted vehicle stops were conducted in Red Deer and Whitecourt.

“ALERT’s investigation revealed the Edmonton-based group was aggressive in supplying smaller cells in Grande Prairie and Red Deer. By leveraging our criminal intelligence, and coordinating ALERT’s resources, we were able to undermine their operations by intercepting significant shipments of harmful drugs,” said Inspector Kevin Berge, ALERT Edmonton.

The totality of ALERT’s enforcement efforts netted one million dollars’ worth of drugs, including the seizure of:

• Three handguns;
• 645 rounds of ammunition;
• 8,578 grams of meth;
• 1,317 grams of fentanyl;
• 2,850 milliliters of GHB;
• 3 grams of cocaine;
• 57 opioid pills;
• 17,260 grams of buffing agents;
• 929 grams of unknown powders; and
• $16,255 cash.

All three of the firearms were found with ammunition and not lawfully possessed. One of the firearms was believed to have been 3-D printed and was equipped with a suppression device. ALERT will be submitting the firearms for further analysis and ballistics testing.

Five people were arrested but no charges have been laid at this time.

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.