The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) seized about $55 million worth of methamphetamine and cocaine following a cross-border investigation with the RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime unit and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. .A Wednesday press release said Project Cobra was an almost three-year organized crime investigation into transnational drug importing, drug trafficking, and money laundering. .The release said enforcement initiatives in Canada and the United States have led to 928kg of methamphetamine and six kilograms of cocaine being intercepted. It said about $7 million worth of assets have been seized or placed under criminal restraint. . Drug bustMore than an estimated $55 million worth of methamphetamine and cocaine has been seized following a cross-border investigation by ALERT, RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime, and the US Drug Enforcement Administration. .Project Cobra relied on assistance from a number of police agencies and specialized units, such as Calgary police, Edmonton police, US Homeland Security Investigations, US Customs and Border Protection, Canada Border Services Agency, Niagara police, Canada Revenue Agency, and Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada. RCMP units in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Saskatoon, North Battleford, SK., and Osoyoos, BC, were involved. .Police agencies collaborated to make numerous large-scale drug seizures throughout Project Cobra. Shipments destined for Alberta included: .342 kg of meth in Wyoming;308 kg of meth in Los Angeles;137 kg of meth in Calgary;84 kg of meth in Los Angeles;50 kg of meth at Lake Koocanusa, B.C.;Seven kilograms of meth and one kilogram of cocaine in Calgary; andFive kilograms of cocaine in North Battleford, SK. .Nineteen firearms were seized. The firearms included handguns, rifles, submachine guns, and suppressors.. Seized homeOne of the properties seized during Project Cobra. .The release said $7 million worth of property, bank accounts, fancy cars, and other suspected proceeds of crime were seized or placed under criminal restraint. The assets include a $3.5-million home in Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, two Lamborghinis, a Porsche, classic cars, and $200,000 cash..Project Cobra began in 2020, and a series of 11 coordinated search warrants were executed in December. Homes, vehicles, businesses, and storage locations were searched in Calgary, Bedford, NS, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Leduc, AB. . Classic carsClassic cars seized during Project Cobra. .The release said fifteen people and one business have been charged with 80 criminal offences, ranging from participation in a criminal organization, importation of a controlled substance, laundering proceeds of crime, and drug trafficking. The suspects who were arrested and charged between May and August were: .Elias Ade, 38-year-old from Calgary, charged with 12 offences;Abdul Akbar, 37-year-old from Calgary, charged with 8 offences;Tianna Bull, 25-year-old from North Battleford, charged with 1 offence;Lina El-Chammoury, 50-year-old from Calgary, charged with 2 offences;Russell Ens, 39-year-old from North Battleford, charged with 2 offences;Talal Fouani, 46-year-old from Calgary, charged with 3 offences;Belal Fouani, 44-year-old from Calgary, charged with 3 offences;Kari-Lynn Grant, 51-year-old from Calgary, charged with 4 offences;Scott Hunt, 33-year-old from Calgary, charged with 3 offences;Ricco King, 50-year-old from Bedford, charged with 5 offences;Jarett Mackenzie, 32-year-old from Calgary, charged with 6 offences;Jesse Marshall, 52-year-old from Calgary, charged with 4 offences;Daniel Menzul, 32-year-old from Calgary, charged with 4 offences;Sean Nesbitt, 44-year-old from Calgary, charged with 3 offences;William Whiteford, 39-year-old from Leduc, charged with 20 offences; andFouani Equity Funds Ltd. charged with 1 offence..Fouani is a Calgary-based investment company and was charged with laundering proceeds for an organized crime group. .This drug bust resembles one ALERT did where it seized more than $4.5 million worth of drugs and about $1 million in cash after homes across Calgary were searched. .READ MORE: Multi-million dollar drug bust made in Calgary .Project Carlos is an ongoing criminal network investigation led by its Calgary organized crime team, which received help from Calgary police and the RCMP. The search warrants took place between August 24 and September 2 at 15 locations across the city. .A number of suspects have been identified, but no charges have been laid. Project Carlos remains ongoing, since police are preparing reports and disclosing evidence to the Crown attorney.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) seized about $55 million worth of methamphetamine and cocaine following a cross-border investigation with the RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime unit and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. .A Wednesday press release said Project Cobra was an almost three-year organized crime investigation into transnational drug importing, drug trafficking, and money laundering. .The release said enforcement initiatives in Canada and the United States have led to 928kg of methamphetamine and six kilograms of cocaine being intercepted. It said about $7 million worth of assets have been seized or placed under criminal restraint. . Drug bustMore than an estimated $55 million worth of methamphetamine and cocaine has been seized following a cross-border investigation by ALERT, RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime, and the US Drug Enforcement Administration. .Project Cobra relied on assistance from a number of police agencies and specialized units, such as Calgary police, Edmonton police, US Homeland Security Investigations, US Customs and Border Protection, Canada Border Services Agency, Niagara police, Canada Revenue Agency, and Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada. RCMP units in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Saskatoon, North Battleford, SK., and Osoyoos, BC, were involved. .Police agencies collaborated to make numerous large-scale drug seizures throughout Project Cobra. Shipments destined for Alberta included: .342 kg of meth in Wyoming;308 kg of meth in Los Angeles;137 kg of meth in Calgary;84 kg of meth in Los Angeles;50 kg of meth at Lake Koocanusa, B.C.;Seven kilograms of meth and one kilogram of cocaine in Calgary; andFive kilograms of cocaine in North Battleford, SK. .Nineteen firearms were seized. The firearms included handguns, rifles, submachine guns, and suppressors.. Seized homeOne of the properties seized during Project Cobra. .The release said $7 million worth of property, bank accounts, fancy cars, and other suspected proceeds of crime were seized or placed under criminal restraint. The assets include a $3.5-million home in Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, two Lamborghinis, a Porsche, classic cars, and $200,000 cash..Project Cobra began in 2020, and a series of 11 coordinated search warrants were executed in December. Homes, vehicles, businesses, and storage locations were searched in Calgary, Bedford, NS, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Leduc, AB. . Classic carsClassic cars seized during Project Cobra. .The release said fifteen people and one business have been charged with 80 criminal offences, ranging from participation in a criminal organization, importation of a controlled substance, laundering proceeds of crime, and drug trafficking. The suspects who were arrested and charged between May and August were: .Elias Ade, 38-year-old from Calgary, charged with 12 offences;Abdul Akbar, 37-year-old from Calgary, charged with 8 offences;Tianna Bull, 25-year-old from North Battleford, charged with 1 offence;Lina El-Chammoury, 50-year-old from Calgary, charged with 2 offences;Russell Ens, 39-year-old from North Battleford, charged with 2 offences;Talal Fouani, 46-year-old from Calgary, charged with 3 offences;Belal Fouani, 44-year-old from Calgary, charged with 3 offences;Kari-Lynn Grant, 51-year-old from Calgary, charged with 4 offences;Scott Hunt, 33-year-old from Calgary, charged with 3 offences;Ricco King, 50-year-old from Bedford, charged with 5 offences;Jarett Mackenzie, 32-year-old from Calgary, charged with 6 offences;Jesse Marshall, 52-year-old from Calgary, charged with 4 offences;Daniel Menzul, 32-year-old from Calgary, charged with 4 offences;Sean Nesbitt, 44-year-old from Calgary, charged with 3 offences;William Whiteford, 39-year-old from Leduc, charged with 20 offences; andFouani Equity Funds Ltd. charged with 1 offence..Fouani is a Calgary-based investment company and was charged with laundering proceeds for an organized crime group. .This drug bust resembles one ALERT did where it seized more than $4.5 million worth of drugs and about $1 million in cash after homes across Calgary were searched. .READ MORE: Multi-million dollar drug bust made in Calgary .Project Carlos is an ongoing criminal network investigation led by its Calgary organized crime team, which received help from Calgary police and the RCMP. The search warrants took place between August 24 and September 2 at 15 locations across the city. .A number of suspects have been identified, but no charges have been laid. Project Carlos remains ongoing, since police are preparing reports and disclosing evidence to the Crown attorney.
