House fire leads police to drug lab, loaded handgun
Five charged after $283,000 worth of cocaine, heroin and meth seized
Not properly stubbing their butts proved a costly lesson for one Calgary drug ring last week, after a house fire led city narcotics investigators to nearly $300,000 in cocaine, methamphetamine and cash.
A little after 7 p.m. on Jan. 3, fire crews were called to a home on Sherwood Mount N.W. for reports of a house fire.
Once on scene, crews extinguished a fire in the home’s garage.
While inspecting the home to ensure the fire hadn’t spread, firefighters encountered signs the home was being used as a clandestine drug processing lab.
Calgary police were notified and, after securing the appropriate search warrants, entered the home at 3 a.m.
Once inside, police seized more than $10,000 in Canadian and U.S. currency, 295 grams of powdered cocaine, 28 grams of methamphetamine, 1.2 grams of heroin and a loaded .45-calibre handgun.
Investigators also seized money counters, drug packaging and conversion equipment, and a surveillance detection device.
In all, $283,000 worth of drugs were seized by investigators after the fire, which officials believe was sparked by improperly disposed-of smoking materials.
Po Lo Yu, 45, Kim Ha Nguyen, 44, Thang Van Lam, 43, Kevin Do, 23, and 21-year-old Cynthia Kathy Yu — all of Calgary — are charged with production of a controlled substance, possession of proceeds obtained by crime and possession of a restricted firearm, as well as three counts each of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Investigation into the operation continues.