Post by Admin on Sept 24, 2015 17:21:06 GMT
By Garrett Barry, Today staff
Wednesday, September 23, 2015 3:01:55 MDT PM
Six people have been arrested and charged in two separate drug crackdowns in Fort McMurray in the last two weeks.
ALERT said on Wednesday that police recovered 300 grams of crack cocaine and nearly $35,000 in cash in two searches in Fort McMurray on Sept. 9 and 18. A total of 23 charges were laid against the six individuals, including charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of stolen property, and trafficking a controlled substance.
“It’s a significant amount for a community such as Fort McMurray,” said Insp. Chad Coles from ALERT. “And you factor in the cash proceeds of crime that were seized as well, that’s $35,000, it’s significant.”
“It’s indicative of...a business operation,” he alleged.
According to the organized-crime-and-drug squad, an apartment in Waterways was searched on Sept. 9. Police also searched a conversion lab in downtown apartment, where they claim cocaine powder was being cooked into crack, on Sept. 18. The searches were not related.
Yimag Abdi Ahmed, 23, Maya Ahmed, 23, and Mahamoud Mahdi Nur, 23, are charged in relation to the Sept. 9 search. Anaa Dawud Usman, 30, Esmael Eshatu Habte, 24, and Abdurahzak Mohamed Isse, 25, are facing charges in relation to the downtown search.
ALERT says all are believed to be residents of Fort McMurray. The six individuals will again appear in court in Fort McMurray on Sept. 29.
Police said they believe that these arrests and seizures, like drug-related arrests, are a victory for public safety.
“Obviously, it’s no secret that drugs and violence do go hand in hand,” said Cpl. Jesse Jones of the Wood Buffalo RCMP, which collaborated with ALERT in the searches and arrests. “Any time you get drugs off the street, it’s going to contribute to public safety astronomically.”
Police also recovered “smaller” amounts of marijuana and khat, a leafy plant that is chewed as a stimulant. Khat is primarily grown in eastern Africa, and is illegal in Canada.