5 people charged in Calgary cocaine trafficking investigation

Five people are facing charges following a cocaine trafficking investigation by Calgary police.

Officers launched the investigation in July after receiving information that led them to believe illegal drugs were being sold out of a home in the community of Forest Lawn.

On Oct. 26, police executed search warrants on two homes, one in the 1200 block of 44 Street S.E. and the other in the community of Kingsland, located in the 600 block of 68 Avenue S.W.

Police say that while they searched the home on 68 Avenue, two people ran off and attempted to discard drugs they had in their possession.

“They were quickly apprehended with the assistance of the gang suppression team and the canine unit,” police said in a news release.

Two other people at the home were taken into custody without incident.

According to police, items found in the home included:

• 93.1 grams of cocaine worth an estimated $9,500
• 61 pills of fentanyl worth an estimated $1,220
• $12,300 in cash
• A loaded 40 calibre Beretta handgun, previously reported stolen

In total, police laid 55 charges against five people including 20-year-old Victor Braima, 22-year-old Ali Shahbaz, 19-year-old Juan Ruiz Durango, 22-year-old Ruot Gatwech and 23-year-old Nawaz Ali.