Police say ALERT drug bust in Calgary will impact Medicine Hat

It’s the third-largest fentanyl seizure in Alberta.

“It is the investigator’s belief these pills were sourced from British Columbia,” said Inspector Patty McCallum with the Calgary Police Service. “Given the health crisis our communities have faced over opioid abuse, there is no doubt in my mind that lives have been saved.”

It’s also the largest meth bust by ALERT with more of the drug being seized in this single operation than in the last two years combined.

Medicine Hat Police have said previously that methamphetamine is a bigger problem in the community than fentanyl.

Inspector Brent Secondiak said this seizure will impact the supply of the drug in the city, and will likely increase the cost of methamphetamine for a time.

He adds the bust could even help investigators here pin down suspected drug traffickers.

“There will be people looking elsewhere to get a supply of methamphetamine which has advantages for us because some of our known targets are travelling to other places to pick up drugs,” said Secondiak.

“So, it’s something that our ALERT team will focus on, people bringing methamphetamine and fentanyl into our community.”

In addition to the drugs seized, more than $500,000 cash, 11 handguns, two homes, an SUV, a travel trailer, bank accounts and numerous weapons were seized as part of Project Offshore.

Police have charged 11 people with more than 120 criminal offences, and more charges are expected to be laid.

by Leah Murray

Police say ALERT drug bust in Calgary will impact Medicine Hat

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