After what police call a long and complex investigation, 12 people have been arrested and charged after police seized drugs, cash and vehicles from a suspected criminal organization.
Police asy they've dealt a blow to the suspected crime ring. The investigation began last year on what was believed to be a fairly sophisticated crime group operating city-wide but especially in north Edmonton.
Seven search warrants were carried out at six homes and a stoarge locker in areas across Edmonton on March 27, resulting in arrests and the seizure of 1 kg of cocaine worth approximately $103,500, 122 g of marijuana worth $1,200, a loaded 9 mm hand gun, brass knuckles, $95,000 in cash along with six vehicles including a 2013 Harley Davidson V-Rod, a Dodge Ram, Ford Fusion, Ford F450, Infiniti M45 and Infiniti G35.
Police have laid more than 40 charges against 12 people and say the investigation was launched as part of the EPS Violence Reduction Strategy addressing the rise in violence and criminal activity with suspected organized crime groups.
"We believe that we have effectively dismantled this criminal organization," said EPS Acting Det. Michael Dreilich.
"They have not self-identified and they officially do not have a name. What I can tell you is the core group is a network of a family. The group was acting with some level of sophistication."
Officers say an increase in violence is what sparked the initial investigation.
"The information that we received is that the group was, as a means to support their drug business, was resorting to violence," Dreilich said.
"As a division we took the steps to get in front of the investigation before anyone else got hurt and this is where it led us."
Trevor Terry, 25, has been charged with participating in a criminal organization, conspiracy to traffic, and four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Shane Terry, 24, has been charged with participating in a criminal organization and conspiracy to traffic.
Chad Costello, 30, has been charged with participating in a criminal organization, conspiracy to traffic, and conspiracy to commit murder. An additional 14 warrants were executed including attempted murder.
Brandon Jarvis, 28, has been charged with participating in a criminal organization, conspiracy to traffic, and two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Katie Fata, 21, has been charged with participating in a criminal organization, conspiracy to traffic, and four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Cody Bradshaw, 26, has been charged with participating in a criminal organization and conspiracy to traffic.
Tyler Gamble, 30, has been charged with participating in a criminal organization and conspiracy to traffic.
Sheldon King, 30, has been charged with participating in a criminal organization, conspiracy to traffic, and conspiracy to commit murder. An additional 10 warrants were executed.
Matthew Terry-Costello, 26, has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a firearm unauthorized, possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition, unauthorized possession of a firearm, and careless storage of a firearm.
Kaeleah Merrick, 24, has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a firearm unauthorized, possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition, unauthorized possession of a firearm, careless storage of a firearm and possession of a firearm obtained by crime.
Cody Dixon, 24, has been charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a weapon.
Cody Sangster, 26 is charged with participating in a criminal organization and conspiracy to traffic.
The next court appearance for majority of those charged is April 30.
Sangster was arrested last Saturday, allegedly connected to the same criminal organization.
His next court appearance is scheduled for May 6.
Lots of criminal activity in Edmonton
Retired University of Alberta criminologist Keith Spencer says the bust shows there is a large amount of criminal activity in Edmonton.
"When things are a bit rambunctious and there's a competition going on in the streets for control over drugs, you tend to get a lot of shootings and intimidations," Spencer said.
"There's a fair bit of activity in Edmonton and in large urban centres and this is jus reflective of that."
Police said several units were involved in the year-long investigation.
"With the 12 people being charged, we feel that the 12 are the ones who are responsible for it. Without doubt, to what we have done with their group, seizing their cash and their cars and their drugs, we have no doubt that we have dismantled this group," Dreilich said.
"Our edge unit, our surveillence unit, our target offenders unit and every unit that you can imagine, we dealt with. We used tactical for the arrest day, we also used the services of ALERT and the RCMP."
Spencer says despite the bust, tackling organized crime in the city is an ongoing issue.
"It doesn't take very long for new players to get in the business because it's very lucrative," he said.
"In our particular community where there are a lot of younger people, a lot of money, people coming down from the oil patch, that attracts criminal activity, drugs, prostitution and what not. We can always expect that with the good times comes opportunities for criminal behaviour. We're a site that is going to experience a lot of that."
Help for unsolved shootings
Meanwhile police are asking the public for help on several unsolved shootings that took place in the last three years.
The investigations are also part of the EPS Violence Reduction Strategy.
The incidents being investigated are:
- November 5, 2012 in the area of 119 Avenue and 36 Street
- May 8, 2012 at a home in the area of 88 Street and 160 Avenue
- May 21, 2011 at a restaurant in the area of 133 Avenue and 50 Street
- October 31, 2010 at a residence in the area of 162 Avenue and 55A Street
- July 17, 2010 in the area of 80 Street and 130 Avenue
- May 3, 2010 at an auto shop in the area of 118 Avenue and 48 Street
Anyone with information is asked to call 780-423-4567, #377 from a mobile phone or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.