Calgary police make 'significant' cocaine seizure totalling almost entire 2022 haul
MRU criminology prof says it's a sizable amount but more work needs to be done
Calgary police say they've seized more than 90 kilograms of cocaine — estimated to have a wholesale value of more than $5.4 million — an amount that almost totals the service's entire seizure last year.
The drug bust comes as a result of a four-month investigation into an alleged drug trafficker operating out of Calgary, police say.
Two men have been charged with two counts each of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
"A seizure of this size significantly disrupts the operations of organized crime groups across Canada," said Staff Sgt. Mark Rahn of CPS's organized crime operations unit.
The police service's entire seizure for 2022 was nine kilograms more than what was seized as a part of this investigation, Rahn said during a press event Thursday.
WATCH | Police intercept vehicle carrying cocaine believed to be destined for Calgary:
Calgary police worked with the Edmonton and Vancouver police services to disrupt the operation, as well as with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). A spokesperson with Calgary police said information was received from the DEA, which led to the investigation.
It's a sizable seizure, said Kelly Sundberg, a professor in criminology at Mount Royal University in Calgary.
"We now have to see what the courts will do with these charges. But I think the police did their job, they did it well," he said. "But this is what the police need to be doing."
Still, Sundberg said the amount seized represent just a "drop in the bucket" when it comes to the amount of illegal drugs flooding onto Canadian streets.
"This should be a common occurrence, not a one-off. We need to see a much, much greater emphasis put on addressing drug smuggling, drug trafficking and putting these high-level drug dealers behind bars," he said.
Investigation began in October 2022
Police said they first received information about an individual believed to be involved in a cross-Canada drug trafficking operation in October 2022. On Feb. 17 and 18, police intercepted two vehicles travelling to Calgary from Vancouver.
"We executed search warrants on these vehicles and discovered both were equipped with sophisticated aftermarket hidden compartments," Rahn said.
"These compartments were welded into the vehicles and were operated by hydraulics through relay switches."
The 90 kilograms of cocaine were found in the hidden compartments.
Investigators then executed search warrants on a residence in northwest Calgary, and a third vehicle tied to the residence. They say they found a small amount of cocaine and fentanyl as well as scales and packaging consistent with drug trafficking activity.
On March 16, one man was arrested in Calgary and another was arrested in Surrey, B.C. They will appear in court on April 14.
"We believe that a quantity of these drugs was destined for Toronto, and another portion was likely destined to Edmonton and northern Alberta," Rahn said.
"So this directly impacts all of various communities that these drugs were destined towards, and most specifically the violence that is associated with drug trafficking."
The seizure comes one day after police announced in a separate investigation where they had seized close to $200,000 worth of drugs and cigarettes in downtown Calgary, in what they called "a travelling pharmacopeia."
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