Nine-month investigation into organized-crime kidnappings results in charges

Since May 2023, two investigative teams within our Organized Crime & Offender Management Section have been working to lay charges in relation to two retaliatory kidnappings that occurred last year and targeted innocent victims. These investigations were complex, and after a significant amount of work, both investigations have now concluded and five men are facing charges.

Two women kidnapped, dozens of police resources respond

Shortly after 6 p.m., on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, a woman in her 20s was returning to her vehicle in a parking lot outside of her workplace in northeast Calgary, when she was approached by an unknown man and forced into a vehicle. The woman’s family was notified that she had been taken and police were called out of concern for the woman’s well-being.

Several investigative resources were activated from across our Service to locate and safely recover the woman. During the investigation, police learned a second woman, in her 50s, had been kidnapped at gun point from a residence in southeast Calgary. This kidnapping occurred several hours after the first and was believed to be an act of retaliation.

Both women were taken to separate residences in Calgary that were rented out through Airbnb, where they were held until the early hours of Thursday, May 4, 2023. The women were assaulted multiple times before being released by suspects. Once located, one woman was taken to hospital.

During these incidents, which lasted more than 30 hours, dozens of police resources from across the Service were engaged in an effort to track the suspects and locate the victims.

CPS stands up two investigative teams to identify offenders

Following the release of the victims, investigators spent a significant amount of time interviewing witnesses and victims, as well as gathering both physical and digital evidence. Due to the complexity of the progressing investigations, two investigative teams were assigned.

Over the next nine months, more than 100 judicial authorizations were obtained to progress the investigations and collect evidence. This included the search of numerous electronic devices and five properties located in Calgary, Edmonton and Windsor.

“Much like legitimate business networks, organized-crime networks are not isolated to Calgary, and this investigation required us to liaise with our partners across the country,” says Staff Sergeant Roland Stewart of the Organized Crime Response Unit. “In this case, we determined several offenders were from outside of Calgary, and likely hired through their criminal connections.”

Throughout the investigation, we received assistance from the Windsor Police Service, Vancouver Police Department, Lethbridge Police Service and the Edmonton Police Service.

Five men now facing charges

In November 2023, Raejean Charles Sydney HUDSON, 23, of Windsor, Ont., and Enyi-Egbe IDEDEVBO, 28, of Windsor, Ont., were arrested and each face one charge of kidnapping. They will next appear in court on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. 

On Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, investigators travelled to Edmonton, where two men were arrested and have now been charged.

Code OUELLETTE, 38, of Edmonton, and Aireajah TAYLOR-FRANCOIS, 21, of Edmonton, have both been charged with one count each of kidnapping, robbery, sexual assault, theft over $5,000, break and enter to commit an indictable offence, disguised with intent to commit an indictable offence and using an imitation firearm to commit an indictable offence.

OUELLETTE will next appear in court on Friday, April 12, 2024, and TAYLOR-FRANCOIS will next appear in court on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. 

On Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, police arrested a fifth man at a residence located in northwest Calgary. During a search of the residence, police located a loaded shotgun. A photo of this shotgun is available on The City of Calgary Newsroom.

Ramien Joshua NAIMI, 34, of Calgary, has been charged with 36 offences, including one count each of careless storage of a firearm, uttering threats and knowing possession of an unlicensed weapon, two counts each of possession of a weapon contrary to a prohibition order and identity theft, and 29 counts of failure to comply with a release order. He will next appear in court on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. 

“Over the past ten years, we have seen a significant shift in the organized-crime landscape in Calgary. Offenders today are highly motivated by money, and we see allegiances change, sometimes on a daily basis,” says Staff Sgt. Stewart. “While these individuals don’t always identify themselves as ‘groups’, their relationships both within and outside of their network are very volatile, and fractures result in the violence that we see. This adds complexity when we are working to prevent and suppress organized-crime-related violence in our city.”

Investigators believe both kidnappings were sophisticated and planned events involving various levels of organized-crime members, including those contracted from outside of Calgary. These incidents are alleged to have been the result of drug-related organized-crime conflict and the victims were targeted as a result of their associations to individuals involved in organized crime.

This is an example of how organized-crime-related violence impacts more than just those involved, including innocent family members. Our efforts to address organized-crime in Calgary requires community support.

If you have information that could help an investigation, such as witnessing suspicious behaviour or vehicles, please contact police. Even something small can have a great impact on an investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477

TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org

APP: P3 Tips

Case #: CA23182457/4429 & CA23182742/4929