Police recover close to $1 million worth of drugs
The Calgary Police Service Gang Enforcement Team (GET) has recovered close to one million dollars worth of drugs and has laid charges in relation to an investigation that was initiated in July 2019.
In response to recent increases in violence and shootings in Calgary, GET investigators began targeting individuals believed to be involved in organized drug trafficking activity associated to the violence.
On Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, GET, with the assistance of the CPS Tactical Unit, executed a search warrant on an apartment located in the 500 block of Riverfront Avenue S.E. It is believed that the apartment was being used for large scale drug storage, packaging and production related activities.
Upon entering the residence, officers observed that the apartment had been contaminated with suspected fentanyl powder and called in resources from the CPS SAFE Team, to assist with processing the scene. While this was occurring, one man attempted to flee the scene, however was taken into custody by officers after an extensive struggle.
A second man was also taken into custody from the scene and an additional search warrant was executed on a Subaru Impreza located in the parkade of the same building.
The following items were seized as a result of the execution of the search warrants:
- 4,441.4 grams of fentanyl, with an estimated street value of $886,240
- 968.9 grams of ketamine, with an estimated street value of $80,000
- 26.6 grams of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $2,600
- 13.2 grams of fentanyl powder, with an estimated street value of $2,600
- 77.3 grams of prescription pharmaceuticals
- 22.393 kilograms of phenacetin, a commonly used cutting agent
- $1,640 in Canadian currency
- Fentanyl production lab equipment and associated colouring powders
Photos of some of the seized items are available on The City of Calgary Newsroom.
“This is a significant seizure for the Calgary Police Service,” says Staff Sergeant Kyle Grant of the Strategic Enforcement Unit. “These drugs had the potential to be very dangerous to our community and we will continue to target individuals who are involved in organized drug activity in our city.
Joshua Lloyd OKABE, 33, of Calgary, has been charged with four counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, and one count each of production of a controlled substance, possession of proceeds of crime and resisting arrest. OKABE has also been charged with three counts of breaching a court order. OKABE will next appear in court on Monday, Sept. 23, 2019.
Darwin BUCCAT, 23, of Calgary, has been charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. BUCCAT will next appear in court on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019.
The Calgary Police Service is committed to ensuring that Calgary remains a safe place to live. Addressing the increased violence and shootings is a priority for CPS and is being addressed by several areas of the Service.
Anyone with information about drugs or firearms offences is asked to call The Calgary Police Service non-emergency number at 403-266-1234, or 9-1-1 for a crime in progress. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through either of the following methods:
TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
Case #19292768/4616