Drug-trafficking investigations net $800K in firearms and ‘toxic drugs’
Police lay dozens of narcotics and weapons charges against three suspects
Two separate drug trafficking investigations that concluded at the end of August resulted in dozens of charges against three people and the seizure of more than $800,000 in drugs and firearms.
The first investigation, led by the Edmonton Drug and Gang Enforcement (EDGE) unit, ended on Aug. 30 after a multi-month drug trafficking investigation that led to the arrest of a couple.
Police conducted a search warrant on their car and a home in the southwest Edmonton neighbourhood of Blackmud Creek.
Investigators seized 3.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 400 grams of brown and pink fentanyl, over 300 grams of cocaine, and 1.8 kilograms of phenacetin with a total street value of approximately $442,000.
Officers also seized six firearms, including a model XT-22 rifle, a Winchester Model 1894 rifle, a Pietta .22 calibre rifle with a cut barrel, a .303-calibre rifle with a cut barrel, an Uzkon AS46 shotgun, an AR-15 MODJ-15 rifle with an unattached silencer and a Ruger Mark 4 handgun.
Acting Insp. Pierre Blais, of the EPS Organized Crime Branch, said from a police perspective the seizures are “very gratifying.”
“By taking these toxic drugs and firearms out of the hands of dealers, I am confident harm has been reduced and lives have certainly been saved,” said Blais.
Blais said the two arrested in this investigation are considered to be mid-level drug dealers. He said the arrests make a dent in drug trafficking in the city.
“It’s moving forward to make our community safer certainly with the toxicity of drugs, in particular with the fentanyl and methamphetamine,” said Blais.
“As we all know on the fentanyl side of things, and the deaths and the despair that particular drug causes within the community, every single gram of fentanyl we take off the street, in my opinion, saves a life.”
The second investigation, led by the targeted offender unit, concluded on Aug. 25 after police monitored the release conditions of an Edmonton man as a result of previous charges.
While monitoring the man, investigators made observations consistent with street-level drug trafficking which led to a search warrant being executed at a home in the northeast neighbourhood of Mcconachie.
Blais said investigators seized numerous drugs, including 1.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, one kilogram of cocaine, 183 grams of fentanyl, 14 kilograms of phenacetin and over 1,500 grams of cannabis, all totalling an approximate street value of $367,000.
A .40-calibre handgun, which investigators believe was smuggled in from the U. S., was also seized.
“We’re doing some followup investigation in relation to the overall status of the amount and quantity of the drugs we ended up seizing,” said Blais.
The EDGE investigation resulted in the arrest of two people, who Blais said are a couple.
Twenty-nine-year-old Jesse Hughes is facing 23 charges including three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, one count of possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition readily available and five counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm.
Kaitlyn Byers, 21, is facing 19 charges, including three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and seven counts of unsafe storage of a firearm.
The targeted offender investigation led to the arrest of 30-yearold Christopher Hartnett. He faces a total of 14 charges including five counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and three counts of firearms charges.