Edmonton police seize 66 kg of drugs in massive interprovincial trafficking bust

The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) has seized over 66 kg of illicit drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin, in a large-scale drug trafficking investigation. The operation, which spanned several months, targeted an interprovincial network smuggling drugs into Alberta for distribution across Edmonton, including the city’s inner-city areas.The investigation, led by the Edmonton Drug and Gang Enforcement Section (EDGE), began in December 2023 and focused on three male suspects involved in transporting and distributing drugs between provinces. The drugs were stored in a high-rise apartment in central Edmonton.On May 9, 2024, EPS executed search warrants at three residences and four vehicles, uncovering a significant haul of drugs and weapons. The search led to the seizure of:55.7 kg of methamphetamine, valued at approximately $250,6508.7 kg of cocaine, worth approximately $696,0002.5 kg of fentanyl, valued at $300,00083.5 grams of heroin, estimated at $28,40020 kg of buffing agent used to cut drugsFive handguns, including three loaded firearms, two with defaced serial numbers and others reported stolen from Saskatchewan, Alberta, and the U.S.Four vehicles with hidden compartmentsApproximately $20,000 in cash.“This investigation is believed to be one of the largest, if not the largest, seizure of controlled substances in EPS history,” says Staff Sergeant David Paton, with the Edmonton Drug and Gang Enforcement (EDGE) Section. “Intercepting this huge volume of extremely harmful street drugs before they wreak havoc in our city is a rewarding outcome for our investigators, who have worked tirelessly for months on this operation.”Jesse Koble, 29, is facing 27 charges, Mitchell Steeg, 31, is charged with nine offences, and Steven Santillana, 34 is charged with two offences, for a total of 38 drug and firearms-related criminal charges.