Six charged in huge bust of cash, drugs and cars
Four Albertans among those in custody as nine-month Project Embrace wraps
More than $1 million worth of cash, drugs and cars were seized by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) after a nine-month investigation dubbed Project Embrace.
Investigators say the operation involved an Edmonton group importing drugs from B.C. and distributing them in Alberta, particularly in the communities of Bonnyville, Lloydminster, St. Paul, Cold Lake, Little Smoky and Frog Lake.
“It’s something to have a seizure of this sort in a larger centre like Edmonton or Calgary, but when we’re talking about smaller communities throughout Alberta, this has a significant impact, and it just demonstrates the nexus that organized crime has throughout the entire province,” ALERT chief executive Chad Coles said.
More than six kilograms of cocaine, two kilograms of methamphetamine, almost $350,000 in cash, 18 kilograms of a cocaine buffing agent and a 2007 Volvo XC90 with a hidden compartment were seized.
Six people are facing drug trafficking and other charges, including an Edmonton man alleged to be at the centre of the operation.
Police searched four Edmonton homes and two Vancouver apartments as part of the operation and seizures.
ALERT completed the investigation in conjunction with B.C.’S combined forces special enforcement unit and Bonnyville RCMP. More than a dozen agencies were involved.
The investigation began in October 2018 after Bonnyville RCMP initiated the case. Eight street drug dealers, all from Bonnyville, were arrested and charged by RCMP in separate investigations.
“Criminal networks have no borders,” said Edmonton Police Service Deputy Chief Kevin Brezinski. “A project like Embrace was a collaborative effort, with many agencies that dismantled this sophisticated criminal effort.”
Matthew Castle, 44, of Edmonton, is charged with conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance, four counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime. Castle previously faced drug trafficking charges in a 2012 RCMP bust.
Terri Lynn Castle, 50, of Edmonton, is charged with conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance, six counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and two counts of possession of property obtained by crime.
Christian Castle, 18, of Edmonton, is charged with conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance, four counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.
Jacob Fralin, 32, of Vancouver, is charged with conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, two counts of trafficking a controlled substance, possession of property obtained by crime and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.
David Davinder Lally, 40, of Vancouver, is charged with conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance and possession of property obtained by crime.
Ryan Rautiainen, 26, of Lloydminster, is charged with conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance.