From ALERT – Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team

Project Evolve Dismantles Drug Trafficking Network

Eleven people have been arrested for their alleged role in a drug trafficking network, which operated in the Edmonton area and extended into the Bowden Institution.

Project Evolve was a lengthy and multi-faceted investigation led by ALERT’s Edmonton’s organized crime team, with the assistance of Correctional Service Canada, St. Albert RCMP, Morinville RCMP, Innisfail RCMP, Edmonton Police Service, and Winnipeg Police Service.

“I want to sincerely thank law enforcement for their incredible job in disrupting a significant drug trafficking network within Alberta’s correctional system,” said Kaycee Madu, Alberta Minister of Justice and Solicitor General. “ALERT has done a remarkable job partnering with federal, provincial and municipal law enforcement to remove deadly drugs like fentanyl from our prisons. This kind of organized criminal activity has no place in the correctional system.”

A total of 60 criminal charges have been laid against 11 suspects allegedly involved in trafficking drugs in the Edmonton area. ALERT alleges the network conspired to smuggle drugs into the prison system and had established connections to Bowden Institution.

Project Evolve resulted in the seizure of drugs and cash worth an estimated $300,000. Search warrants were executed at homes in St. Albert and Edmonton, with the following evidence being seized:

• 35 grams of fentanyl;
• 88 grams of methamphetamine;
• 620 grams of cocaine;
• 1,341 grams of a cocaine buffing agent;
• 1,745 grams of cannabis;
• a handgun with its serial number removed; and
• $206,000 cash.

“This was a very well-organized, well-coordinated group. Their drug activities jeopardized community safety and hurt communities big and small,” said Staff Sgt. Blayne Eliuk, ALERT Edmonton. “And by introducing drugs into the prison system, this substantially put the health and safety of not only inmates, but also corrections staff and officers, at risk.”

“Organized crime groups who traffic in illicit drugs destroy lives, homes and communities. Drugs and drug addiction contribute to spinoff crimes such as theft and break-and-enters, which result in citizens feeling less safe. Investigations such as this are a positive step towards reducing crime in St. Albert and keeping the community safe,” added Const. M-J Burroughs, St. Albert RCMP.

“I’d like to thank ALERT and my team at Bowden Institution for their combined efforts on Project Evolve. Partnerships such as this one between ALERT and Correctional Service Canada demonstrate intergovernmental departments working together to keep Canadians safe,” said Lawrence Hartigan, Warden of Bowden Institution.

Project Evolve concluded on December 17, 2020, with several arrests:

• David Klassen, a 31-year-old man, currently incarcerated;
• Nicolas Moores, a 29-year-old man from Edmonton;
• Garreth Curry-McCallum, a 23-year-old man from St. Albert;
• Jesse Riedlhuber, a 23-year-old man from Morinville;
• Brendan Baer, a 23-year-old man from St. Albert;
• Tyler Kemps, a 25-year-old man from Edmonton;
• Nolan Arndt, a 24-year-old man from St. Albert;
• Tyler Willimont, a 24-year-old man from Edmonton;
• Jessa Brianne Ivicak, a 23-year-old woman from Edmonton;
• Kolby Gordon, a 23-year-old man from St. Albert; and
• Chayce Anthony Krause, a 26-year-old man, currently incarcerated.

Both Klassen and Krause were incarcerated at Bowden Institution during the course of the investigation. Moores is currently serving a federal sentence under the jurisdiction of the Correctional Service Canada as the result of a conviction from a previous and unrelated ALERT investigation.

A full list of charges is available for download here.

Project Evolve began in June 2019.

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.

From ALERT – The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team

Major Meth Seizure Made in Edmonton

Nearly 14 kilograms of methamphetamine were seized from an Edmonton home as part of an ALERT drug trafficking investigation. The drugs have an estimated street value of $1.35 million.

ALERT Edmonton’s organized crime and gang team made the seizure on December 30, 2020, after four Edmonton homes were searched. The Edmonton Police Service helped execute search warrants at homes in the Summerside, Oliver, Strathcona, and Rosenthal neighbourhoods.

Inside one of the homes, ALERT seized 13.77 kilograms of methamphetamine, which is a significant amount of drugs prevented from making their way into the community. This would equate to more than 45,000 doses when sold at street level.

“This amount of meth represents a high degree of community harm. The influx of cartel-connected meth into our province has fueled violence, ancillary property crimes, and poses serious health concerns. ALERT has prioritized these types of investigations and we are committed to disrupting the meth trade,” said Supt. Dwayne Lakusta, ALERT CEO.

Since 2015, ALERT has seized approximately 110 kilograms of meth from across the province.

“In this case, our investigators believe we hit the distribution point and stopped a lot of drugs from making their way to Edmonton and outlying areas,” said Insp. Kevin Berge, ALERT Edmonton.

In addition to the methamphetamine, ALERT also seized:

• 119.85 grams of cocaine;
• 112.2 grams of MDMA;
• 4.3 grams of suspected fentanyl;
• 63 grams of cannabis resin;
• 19 grams of psilocybin mushrooms;
• 40 Oxycontin tablets; and
• $8,850 cash.

The four-month investigation came as the result of a tip concerning drug trafficking activity.

ALERT’s investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.

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.