Pubdate: Fri, 06 Nov 2015
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2015 The Edmonton Journal
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Paige Parsons
Page: A6

435 CHARGES ISSUED IN MASSIVE DRUG BUST

78 people arrested for trafficking, weapons and various other
offences

More than 400 charges have been laid against 78 people in connection
with an investigation into street-level drug trafficking, according to
the Edmonton Police Service.

Following up on reports of trafficking in the Alberta Avenue area,
community beat officers from the northwest division conducted the
operation, including undercover work, between Sept. 8 and Oct 2.

"The beat officers basically planned every aspect of this
investigation," acting Insp. Jonathan Coughlan told a news conference
at Edmonton Police Headquarters on Thursday, crediting a group of
seven officers who stood with him during the announcement.

He said the officers received some assistance from specialized units,
such as the tactical unit, and relied on tips from the public and
investigations they did themselves.

"We hope it has a big impact on the community in a positive way,"
Coughlan said. "More than doing something to stop the activities, we
want the good people in the community to know we're doing something to
support them."

Police arrested 78 people, carried out four search warrants and laid
435 charges, including 107 drug trafficking charges, 93 weapons
charges, 66 breach charges and 169 charges for other offences. Police
searched four different residences: three in the Alberta Avenue area
and one in southeast Edmonton.

Coughlan said this operation wasn't focused on organized crime and
that the main connection between the 78 people is that they were
partaking in criminal activity in the target area.

Police say they seized more than $50,000 worth of illegal drugs during
the operation. Officers recovered 1.1 litres of GHB, 395 grams of
crystal methamphetamine, 80 grams of marijuana, 100 codeine pills and
200 Dialudid pills. The seized items were on display Thursday.

"You get everything when you're dealing with street-level drug use,"
Coughlan said, adding that in particular he had been surprised by the
amount of methamphetamine that was recovered.

There was also a number of weapons seized during the investigation:
two tables piled high with firearms, a crossbow and "edged weapons"
such as daggers and what appeared to a small sheathed sword.
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MAP posted-by: Matt