'Mountain of meth': Alberta police seize over $55M in drugs, arsenal of weapons
Alberta police have seized an estimated $55 million in illegal drugs through a cross-border investigation into organized crime, trafficking and money laundering.
The investigation, called Project Cobra, began in 2020 and was a joint effort between the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), RCMP and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
ALERT says 928 kilograms of methamphetamine and six kilograms of cocaine were seized as a result of the nearly three-year-long investigation.
"The amount of harm that mountain of meth brings to our communities is very disturbing" said ALERT Supt. Marc Cochlinin a Wednesday news release.
In addition, an estimated $7 million worth of assets were seized or placed under criminal restraint.
The investigation also led to police agencies throughout Canada and in the United States assisting and making numerous large-scale drug seizures in their jurisdictions, including:
- 342 kilograms of meth in Wyoming;
- 308 kilograms of meth in Los Angeles;
- 137 kilograms of meth in Calgary;
- 84 kilograms of meth in Los Angeles;
- 50 kilograms of meth at Lake Koocanusa, B.C.; and
- Five kilograms of cocaine in North Battleford, Sask.
Nineteen firearms were also seized, including handguns, rifles, submachine guns and suppressors.
Alberta police have seized an estimated $55 million in illegal drugs through a cross-border investigation into organized crime, trafficking and money laundering. In addition, police say $7 million worth of property, bank accounts, luxury vehicles and other suspected proceeds of crime has been seized or placed under criminal restraint.
Vehicles seized by police during Project Cobra. (ALERT handout) This includes a $3.5 million home in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., two Lamborghinis, a Porsche, classic cars and $200,000 cash.
A home in Niagra-on-the-Lake placed under criminal restraint during Project Cobra. (ALERT) In total, 15 people and one business have been charged with 80 criminal offences ranging from participation in a criminal organization to importation of a controlled substance.
The suspects were arrested and charged between May 2022 and August 2022, including:
- Elias Ade, 38, from Calgary, charged with 12 offences;
- Abdul Akbar, 37, from Calgary, charged with eight offences;
- Tianna Bull, 25, from North Battleford, charged with one offence;
- Lina El-Chammoury, 50, from Calgary, charged with two offences;
- Russell Ens, 39, from North Battleford, charged with two offences;
- Talal Fouani, 46, from Calgary, charged with three offences;
- Belal Fouani, 44, from Calgary, charged with three offences;
- Kari-Lynn Grant, 51, from Calgary, charged with four offences;
- Scott Hunt, 33, from Calgary, charged with three offences;
- Ricco King, 50, from Bedford, N.S., charged with five offences;
- Jarett Mackenzie, 32, from Calgary, charged with six offences;
- Jesse Marshall, 52, from Calgary, charged with four offences;
- Daniel Menzul, 32, from Calgary, charged with four offences;
- Sean Nesbitt, 44, Calgary, charged with three offences;
- William Whiteford, 39, from Leduc County, charged with 20 offences; and
- Fouani Equity Funds Ltd. charged with one offence.
Fouani Equity Funds Ltd. is a Calgary-based investment company and was charged with laundering proceeds for an organized crime group.
For a complete list of charges laid against each of the accused you can visit the ALERT website.
CARTEL TIES, KING WAS ALLEGEDLY THE LEADER
Alberta police have seized an estimated $55 million in illegal drugs through a cross-border investigation into organized crime, trafficking and money laundering. Sgt. Tara McNeil with ALERT says the investigation revealed an ongoing plot to import high volumes of methamphetamine and cocaine into Alberta.
"We believe these drugs originated in Mexico, and this criminal organization had established links with the cartels."
She says the organized crime unit connected to the arrests operated at an "extremely complex and sophisticated level."
"ALERT alleges that the head of this criminal organization was Ricco King, a 50-year-old man who was well-known in Alberta from previous organized crime investigations.
"King was allegedly the top figure of this criminal organization, and took extraordinary measures to insulate himself from being directly implicated in criminal activity.
"King resided in, and owned, multi-million dollar mansions in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. and in the Halifax, Nova Scotia area."A Halifax County home placed under criminal restraint during Project Cobra. (ALERT handout)
McNeil says the organization didn't have a name it specifically used or operated under.
"This criminal organization is not defined by race, it's not defined by age, it doesn't have a specific name… it's a group of people that were working together for the benefit of the group, to make as much money as possible, to import as many drugs as they possibly could.
McNeil says Project Cobra is "undoubtedly one of ALERT's biggest successes and the impact of this investigation will be substantial."
Coughlan said Operation Cobra didn't just "cut off the head of the snake" it "took the whole damn snake."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'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.
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.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it's too late
Christine Roess is a retired consultant. Ezra Bozeman has spent the last 49 years in prison, serving a life sentence for a murder he says he didn’t commit. Against the odds, the two fell in love.