Officials with the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) said Wednesday that four individuals had been arrested and faced charges stemming from allegations they were part of a gang with alleged connections to Mexican drug cartels and the Mara Salvatrucha gang.
ALERT said the La Familia gang was trying to gain control of drug distribution in Alberta, supplying drug lines in Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Drayton Valley, Lloydminster and Red Deer.
Investigators described La Familia (or The Family) as an international support arm for Mexican drug cartels, with strong ties to the El Salvador-based gang Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13.
ALERT said members of the Alberta chapter wore a three-piece patch, similar to ones worn by members of outlaw motorcycle groups, and had a rank structure with club rules.
The President of La Familia in Alberta, identified as Jose Antonio Monterrey, 33, was arrested December 11 while he tried to board a plane at the Edmonton International Airport.
Three of his associates were also arrested, they have been identified as Peter Alan Griffon, 34, Cody Sterling Tremblett, 28, and Penny Sue Fleming, 34.
The arrests came at the same time as search warrants were executed at three Edmonton homes, where ALERT seized $600,000 worth of drugs. Seized drugs included: 5 kilograms of cocaine, 2.7 kilograms of MDMA, 2 kilograms of a buffing agent, oxycodone pills, a cocaine press and $45,000 in cash proceeds of crime.
Officers also seized a number of firearms and weapons including: two .22 caliber rifles, one of them had a silencer, a .44 caliber Desert Eagle handgun, a sawed-off shotgun, ammunition, and body armour.
The four are facing a total of 40 charges – Monterrey is facing three counts of drug possession, and one count each of possession of body armour and possession of a prohibited weapon, and four counts of possession of a prohibited weapon contrary to a prohibition order.
Griffon is also facing nine charges, two charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking, and one count each of possession of a loaded prohibited firearm and unauthorized possession of a firearm, he’s also facing five charges of careless use of a firearm.
Tremblett and Fleming each face the same 11 charges: two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, five counts of careless use of a firearm, plus one count each of possession of a loaded prohibited firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public and possession of body armour.
The investigation started in August after La Familia was identified as a possible threat to public safety.
