Calgary Police Service (CPS) is furious after two people facing dozens of drugs and weapons charges after a five-month investigation were released on bail..“Anyone who is known to be unlawfully carrying firearms in our communities is a significant risk to public safety, and we are targeting these individuals through investigations and enforcement,” said CPS Insp. Jodi Gach in a Thursday press release. .“However, our efforts are only as good as our ability to keep these offenders in custody.”. Illegal firearmIllegal firearm .CPS said two men have been charged and released on bail after a five-month investigation that resulted in the seizure of seven illegal firearms and more than 1.5 kilograms of illicit drugs. In total, it said 40 criminal charges were laid, including 31 firearms-related ones. .The CPS Organized Crime Operations Unit began investigating after receiving information about two men who were believed to be involved in drug trafficking in Calgary and in unlawful possession of firearms. . Illegal drugsIllegal drugs .Officers took the two men into custody without incident and executed search warrants on four residences located in 2300 block of Fifth St. SW, 100 block of 23 Ave. SW, 300 block of 24 Ave. SW, and 700 block of 77 St. SW on August 24. .As a result, officers seized five handguns, one rifle, one shotgun, 664 grams of fentanyl, 928 grams of methamphetamine, drug production equipment and paraphernalia, $24,000 in Canadian currency, and four vehicles, including a black Acura ILX, green Porsche Panamera, white Range Rover HLE, and a white Infinity FX50. .Calgary resident Leslie Babajid Cole, 32, has been charged with 31 firearms-related offences and one count each of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime. Cole was released on bail and will next appear in court on Monday. .Calgary resident Abel Dawit Teshoma, 32, has been charged with four counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of drug trafficking and one count of possession of the proceeds of crimes. Teshoma was released with consent on bail and will next appear in court on Monday. . Illegal drugsIllegal drugs .CPS said its Organized Crime and Offender Management Section investigators work with Crown attorneys to provide evidence to the court demonstrating an offender’s risk to public safety. Despite its coordinated efforts and the position of the Crown attorney, Cole was released on bail. .“As police officers, we do everything in our power to keep the community safe, but it is extremely concerning when individuals are released who have demonstrated a complete disregard for court-ordered conditions and a propensity to unlawfully possess firearms,” said Gach. .Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact police by calling (403) 266-1234 or Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477.
