Police hunt suspect’s brother after drug bust

A week after city police issued a warning about the potentially deadly painkiller fentanyl, officers announced they had seized 263 of the pills, along with other drugs worth $ 408,000 and several firearms from a northeast Calgary home.

One man was arrested and charged, and his brother is wanted for numerous drug and weapons charges.

The Calgary Police Service and Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams, or ALERT, launched a short- term drug trafficking investigation after receiving a tip from the public. That led officers to conduct a traffic stop, and execute search warrants at a home and vehicle in Coventry Hills on March 25, said Staff Sgt. Keith Hurley with ALERT.

Officers seized the following items: 2.5 kilograms of cocaine; 875 grams of methamphetamine; 27 grams of heroin; 263 fentanyl pills; 49 grams of cannabis resin; 135 grams of phenacetin or “superbuff” commonly used as a cutting agent; $ 3,935 cash as suspected proceeds of crime. In addition, four firearms — including two rifles believed to be stolen from break- and- enters — and replica firearms, along with two knives, were removed.

Hurley said the discovery of what he considers a significant amount of fentanyl is concerning, given the recent fentanyl- related deaths and other large seizures of the drug. Since April 2014, ALERT has seized 16,000 tablets.

“It’s something we’ve seen a bit of an upsurge within the market and we’re starting to see more of it. It’s concerning to us that it’s entering communities and harming people within those communities,” Hurley said.

He said much of the fentanyl is a pharmaceutical product, but the drug sold on the streets is being cut with unknown substances that can be dangerous and potentially deadly, adding: “We’ve seen some fentanyl related deaths in the last few weeks, specifically on the reserve.”

Timothy Sawatzky, 33, of Calgary was arrested during a traffic stop and charged with drug trafficking, two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, and four counts of breach of recognizance. He remains in custody.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Nathan Sawatzky, 35, also of Calgary.

Investigators have released a photo of Nathan and urge anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact police.

Both brothers are known to police, Hurley added.