Four men charged after Calgary police execute one of the largest drug seizures in CPS history

Calgary police have charged four men after seizing over $8.8 million in drugs and cash in what police believe to be one of the largest drug seizures in Calgary Police Service history.

The investigation began in June, when the CPS drug unit became aware of a residence believed to be associated with drug trafficking. Included in the investigation were 16 units within CPS, Edmonton Police Service, RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency.

As the investigation continued, four suspects were identified who police say were believed to be operating a drug distribution network in Calgary and Edmonton. In total, officers wrote 18 judicial authorizations and executed nine search warrants on residences and vehicles, CPS said in a news release.

“This is one of the largest drug seizures in CPS history and represents a significant disruption to a drug trafficking network operating in Calgary,” said acting CPS chief Asif Rashid.

“The volume of drugs seized had the potential to cause immense harm not only to Calgarians, but to communities across our province. Our investigators deserve tremendous credit for taking these drugs off our streets.”

Five residences were connected to the suspects, said CPS, including four in Calgary and one in Cochrane. On Oct. 8, officers executed search warrants at homes in the following areas:

• 6100 block of Penbrooke Drive N.E.
• 800 block of Bridge Crescent N.E.
• 8200 block of 8 Avenue S.E.
• 400 block of 19 Avenue N.E.
• 100 block of Willow Green in Cochrane

Officers discovered and seized:

• 40.3 kg of powder cocaine
• 6.9 kg of MDMA
• 4.3 kg of methamphetamine
• 1.6 kg of fentanyl
• 654 g of crack cocaine
• 31 g of ketamine
• 298,452 prescription pills, including Xanax, codeine, oxycodone, Percocet, Dilaudid and cychlorphine
• More than $2 million in Canadian and U.S. currency

Supt. Jeff Bell of the criminal operations and intelligence division called the investigation “outstanding police work.”

“Our investigators spent months following the evidence, connecting the dots, and building the case that led to one of the largest drug seizures in the service’s history. I’m tremendously proud of the work they completed,” he said.

Though the size of the seizure was significant, Bell said the biggest impact is on public safety.

“There will be a tremendous impact in Calgary as a result of this, specifically with drugs such as fentanyl,” he said. “Fentanyl is a high-risk drug. A pinhead can literally kill somebody, and the fact that we took 1.6 kilograms of fentanyl off the street — we saved a lot of lives.”

The drugs are believed to have come from outside of the country. The cocaine, Bell said, is suspected to have come from Colombia.

Four men are facing charges.

Thomas Bahta, 19, of Calgary, has been charged with one count of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 and two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. He was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 28.

Mohammed Ibrahim, 31, of Calgary, has been charged with one count of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 and 13 counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. He was remanded and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 16

Fozee Ibrahim, 29, of Calgary, has been charged with one count each of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, as well as two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. He was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 28.

Aidan Saunders, 29, of Cochrane, has been charged with one count each of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. He was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 4.

“We’ve spoken a lot recently about the pressures facing policing in Calgary, and the importance of ensuring that our service has the people and resources necessary to meet needs of a growing city,” Rashid said. “Investigations like (this) show what that investment looks like in practice.”

Investigations of this scale, he said, are complex and resource-intensive.

“They require sustained investigative capacity, specialized expertise, and support from across the service, and often alongside law enforcement partners nationally, and even internationally at times,” he said.

“At the same time, we need officers responding to calls for service, investigating other crimes, and delivering on the everyday services that Calgarians rely on.”

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