Dozens of people are facing hundreds of charges, following a month-long Edmonton police investigation into drug trafficking in the city’s northwest.
EPS Northwest Division laid the charges against 78 people as part of an investigation into street-level drug trafficking.
Between September 8 and October 2, officers conducted an extensive operation in the wake of reports of alleged drug trafficking in the area of Alberta Avenue.
“It’s an area that has both very engaged and committed citizens who are trying to improve that neighbourhood, but they’re constantly forced to deal with social problems that are very complex, but often centre around drug use and drug trafficking,” Acting Insp. John Coughlan said. “We’re seeing that ourselves and receiving those complaints from the public.”
The investigation included undercover operations, and included the execution of four search warrants on homes, and 435 criminal charges, including: 107 drug trafficking, 93 weapons charges, 66 breach charges and 169 charges for other offences.
During the investigation, EPS said officers found and seized weapons ranging from firearms, batons, edged weapons and a crossbow, and illegal drugs worth more than $50,000, including: 1.1 litres of GHB, 395 g of crystal methamphetamine, 80 g of marijuana, 100 codeine pills and 200 dialudid pills.
With files from Danelle Boivin
