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ALERT dismantles suspected organized crime group in Calgary

Mar 1, 2018 | 4:26 PM

CALGARY, AB — Six people have been charged following a year-long, cross-border investigation by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team, the Calgary Police Service and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.

ALERT announced the results of Project Arbour during a news conference in Calgary on Thursday. The investigation helped dismantle an alleged organized crime group operating in Calgary, which is linked to several other alleged criminal offences, including a May 2017 homicide.

According to ALERT, the investigation began in October 2016 after 100 kilograms of methamphetamine was found in a vehicle occupied by three men from the Calgary area. The seizure was described as the state’s largest meth bust, and it is believed the drugs were heading to Canada.

Investigators allege the men arrested were working for an organized crime group under the direction of Allistair Chapman, and further allege the group was involved with importing and exporting drugs in Alberta, British Columbia and the United States.

Police in Calgary also located a suspected drug laboratory in the city, with a garage in the Rosscarrock area allegedly being used to produce fentanyl and steroid pills. When the lab was dismantled, officers seized a functioning pill press, pill press punch stamps, a 50-litre powder mixer, and more than 17 kilograms of various chemical powders.

The pill press seized was capable of producing an estimated 18,000 pills an hour and was contaminated with fentanyl. It has since been destroyed.

Police also dismantled an addition laboratory that was producing suspected cannabis resin in the Cougar neighbourhood in Calgary, seizing suspected fentanyl powder.

Calgary Police also allege Chapman’s group was involved in the May 2017 murder of Colin Reitberger and Anees Amr in May 2017. Christian Ouellette was arrested weeks after the shooting in June 2017 and Blais Delaire, another member of Chapman’s group is facing charges in connection with the murder.

Matthew Speirs, 24; Drew Mann, 25; and Bryan Livingston, 32 were also arrested as part of the investigation. A total of 46 charges have been laid.

During the investigation, officers seized five firearms, 18 kilograms of suspected fentanyl powder, a pill press with stamps and dies, 50-litres powder mixer, seven kilograms of methamphetamine, two kilograms of cocaine, 700 grams of heroin, 8.5 kilograms of cannabis products and two vehicles.

The powder substances have been submitted for complete chemical analysis and ALERT is awaiting the full results.