Drug charges against Calgary man stayed

A Calgary man charged nearly a year ago with drug-related offences is no longer facing the charges following a brief hearing this week in Lethbridge court of justice.

Danny Truong, 23, had been charged with three counts of drug possession for the purpose of traffickiing and one count of possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000, but the charges were stayed by the federal Crown Thursday.

A stay of proceedings allows the Crown to halt legal action against an accused, although the proceedings can recommence within a year should evidence warrant it. The Crown did not provide a reason for the stay.

On June 15, 2022 police seized drugs worth more than $337,000 following a drug trafficking investigation. The 553.2 grams of fentanyl seized on that day surpassed the previous largest, single seizure of the drug of 478 grams only a week earlier.

Members of the Crime Suppression Team (CST) and Property Crimes Unit (PCU) began an investigation after observing activities consistent with drug trafficking.

A drug search warrant was obtained and officers with the CST and PCU, as well as the Traffic Response Unit, arrested a man without incident in the 300 block of Mayor Magrath Drive North.

During a search of his vehicle and a residence in the 1900 block of 12 Ave. S, police seized the fentanyl, 192.5 grams of cocaine, and 3,597.5 grams of methamphetamine, which at the time was one of the largest seizures of that drug locally. Police also seized $14,085 cash, considered proceeds of crime.

Although the drugs were forfeited to the Crown for disposal during Thursday’s court hearing, the cash was not pending a civil forfeiture proceeding.