Police seize drugs, handgun after raid on four houses
A loaded handgun — its serial number removed — was seized in Edmonton Oct. 4 along with an assortment of drugs after a probe by the province’s joint police team.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team’s (ALERT) organized crime and gang unit, with the help of city police, made the seizure after a search of four homes that culminated with the arrest of three men, police said Friday. The seized Ruger 9-mm handgun is now undergoing forensic examination and ballistics testing to determine if it was used in any other crimes.
Seizures from the four homes also include:
195 grams of cocaine;
776 grams of a cocaine buffing agent;
15 grams of MDMA;
13 grams of marijuana; eight illicit pills; and $6,580 cash believed to be proceeds of crime.
Police say a home in the northwest neighbourhood of Hudson was being used to convert powder cocaine into crack. Production of a controlled substance is among the 15 charges laid against three suspects.
Besmellah Bakhshi, 24, is facing four counts of trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking, production, possession of proceeds of crime, and possession of a prohibited firearm.
Dion Waddell, 25, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, production, and possession of proceeds of crime.
Asslan El Hassani, 27, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, production, and possession of proceeds of crime.
ALERT’s investigation dates back to August 2017 when information was received about suspected drug trafficking in the area.