'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
Video shows suspect setting Toronto-area barbershop on fire
Video of a suspect lighting a Richmond Hill barbershop on fire earlier this week has been released by police.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire' are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Early results from London, U.K., suggest Labour's Sadiq Khan will secure a record third term as mayor
Sadiq Khan, the Labour Party's mayor of London, appeared Saturday to be romping to victory as results from the capital pour in.
'I have the will to live': N.B. woman needs double lung transplant
A New Brunswick woman suffering from sarcoidosis, a disease that limits your lung capacity, is in need of a double lung transplant.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.