3,714 Fentanyl Pills Saved from Hitting Calgary Streets

Calgary… A total of 3,714 fentanyl pills were prevented from hitting Calgary streets following two separate seizures by ALERT.

ALERT Calgary’s organized crime and gang team teamed up with Calgary Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service, and RCMP members on two separate investigations last week. Search warrants were executed on October 26 and 28, 2016 and resulted in the seizure of 943 fentanyl pills and 2,771 pills, respectively.

The 2,771 pill seizure took place in the Killarney neighbourhood when a home and a vehicle were searched. Investigators identified the home as a potential fentanyl stash site based on information obtained from an ALERT Lethbridge investigation, which took place the previous week. On October 20, two Lethbridge men were arrested in Aldersyde, Alta. after allegedly picking up 584 fentanyl pills from the Calgary area.

ALERT was able to identify the stash location and executed a search warrant on October 28. The fentanyl was located in a vehicle parked at the Killarney residence, along with $11,620 cash proceeds of crime and 47 unknown pills. The home itself was allegedly being used as a cocaine conversion lab and 23 grams of cocaine and 135 grams of a suspected buffing agent were seized.

Sofonyas Fkade, 24, and Bereketab Gedecho, 30, were arrested. Fkade was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking (x 2), production of a controlled substance, possession of property obtained by crime. Gedecho was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and production of a controlled substance.

Earlier in the week, on October 26, ALERT concluded a short-term fentanyl investigation by searching an apartment in the Hillhurst area. Investigators seized 943 fentanyl pills, 9 hydromorphone pills, and $6,000 in cash proceeds of crime.

The target of the investigation, Cody Bryant, was arrested on October 24 following a traffic stop by CPS members. At the time of the traffic stop, the 22-year-old was found with 56 fentanyl pills and subsequently charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a controlled substances, and breach of recognizance, with the later charges stemming from a previous CPS firearms investigation.

ALERT has also charged Bryant with possession for the purpose of trafficking (x 2), possession of property obtained by crime, breach of recognizance (x 4), and breach of probation (x 1). He is scheduled to appear in court on November 3.