Police charge 29 suspects with 160 offences in Calgary drug-trafficking crackdown
Operation focused on CTrain stations and public areas in the city's downtown
Calgary police have laid 160 charges against more than two dozen suspects following a drug trafficking investigation in the city's core.
The operation focused on several CTrain stations and public areas downtown where police had seen an uptick in calls related to overdoses and drug-related activity, the Calgary Police Service said in a release Wednesday.
From April 22 to May 2, officers arrested 29 people and laid the following charges:
- 21 counts of drug trafficking.
- 23 counts of trafficking opioids.
- 6 counts of trafficking methamphetamine.
- 1 count of trafficking heroin.
- 1 count of possession of opioids for the purpose of trafficking.
- 8 counts of possession of other drugs for the purpose of trafficking.
- 10 counts of possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking.
- 70 counts of possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000.
- 9 counts of failure to comply with a release order.
- 4 counts of carrying a concealed weapon.
- 1 count of failure to comply with an appearance notice.
- 1 count of possession of an identity document.
- 2 counts of failure to appear in court.
- 2 counts of obstructing a public officer or peace officer.
- 1 count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
The vast majority of those charged have prior criminal records and histories of trafficking-related charges, and some had trials pending or were subject to conditions, police said.
All of the people who were arrested were offered information about getting addiction treatment and help with finding housing and employment, police said.
They will be potential candidates for the Drug Treatment Court or the Calgary Indigenous Court if appropriate.
"The operation successfully targeted high-incident locations, arrested several drug traffickers, and aimed to support those arrested with resources for recovery," said Staff Sgt. Lon Brewster of the CPS drug unit.
"The collaborative efforts of members from multiple districts across the service and officers from the City of Calgary and Calgary Transit were critical in achieving a successful operation."