139 charges laid in $300M fentanyl 'superlab' bust outside Calgary
The ongoing investigation into the dismantling of a fentanyl "superlab" in southern Alberta in the summer of 2021 has led to a total of 139 charges being laid against residents of Edmonton and Okotoks.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) confirms the accused, who range in age from 19 to 55, include seven Edmontonians and three residents of Okotoks.
The nine men and one woman were arrested and charged this month.
The investigation, dubbed Project Essence, began in February 2021 and culminated with the bust of the facility in a rural area south of Calgary in July 2021.
More than 31 kilograms of fentanyl and its precursors were seized from the facility, as well as from homes and businesses in both Calgary and Edmonton, during the dismantling as well as 7,600 kilograms of chemicals for producing fentanyl.
ALERT officials say the total street value of the bust exceeds $300 million.
The accused are:
- Jesse Deranger, 28-year-old man from Edmonton;
- Juan Galan, 55-year-old man from Okotoks;
- Gregory Hebb, 45-year-old man from Okotoks;
- Dakota Hogg, 27-year-old man from Edmonton;
- Christopher Loyie, 33-year-old man from Edmonton;
- Jonathon Loyie, 35-year-old man from Edmonton;
- Chad Loyie, 33-year-old man from Edmonton;
- Sierra Meuller, 19-year-old woman from Edmonton;
- Ryan Simpson, 41-year-old man from Okotoks; and
- Graham Thomas, 32-year-old man from Edmonton.
ALERT is expected to provide additional details on the investigation during a media availability scheduled to take place Wednesday afternoon in Edmonton.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.