Two alleged biker gang members and a woman were arrested in Fort McMurray after an Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) drug trafficking investigation. Authorities allege the men are members of the Tribal and Syndicate biker gangs — two different Hells Angels support clubs.
Wood Buffalo RCMP and ALERT Fort McMurray’s organized crime and gang team made the arrests on Feb. 15. Alleged Tribal member Darren Paulson, 49, and alleged Red Deer Syndicate member Thomas George, 28, were charged. Police said both men live in Fort McMurray.
The Hells Angels have a strong presence in Alberta, said ALERT spokesman Mike Tucker.
Tribal and Syndicate both have established chapters in Fort McMurray and are amongst the approximately two dozen Hells Angels support clubs operating throughout Alberta, according to ALERT, which investigates organized crime — such as drug trafficking — associated with motorcycle gangs.
Tucker said there are more Hells Angels supporting groups in Alberta than elsewhere in Canada and members in those groups do the low level “dirty work” such as drug trafficking and expanding territory.
Alberta has several small to mid-sized communities that are oil-rich or industry-dependent, with a younger population with plenty of disposable income, which he said are factors in an organized crime chapter setting up shop.
“No community is immune to gang activity,” Tucker said, “Every community deals with it.”
Syndicate’s presence in Fort McMurray dates back to 2009, while Tribal was first seen in the area in November 2016, according to investigators.
The support clubs are like franchises, use for recruiting new members and as a proving ground for those trying to work their way up the hierarchy, Tucker explained. The support clubs also provide insulation from prosecution for the parent club.
Tucker said the two men arrested last week were known to police and are full-patch members, which means they have been members for a significant amount of time and have been voted into the club by other full-patch members.
This latest arrest comes five months after another Fort McMurray outlaw biker investigation resulted in the arrest of five alleged members of the Warlocks — a rival club of the Hells Angels — and the seizure of numerous weapons.
READ MORE: 5 arrested, weapons seized in Fort McMurray outlaw biker investigation
The Syndicate and Tribal support clubs and rival Warlocks club all operate in the northeastern Alberta city and ALERT’s observations found the economic slowdown has not affected the biker gang’s activities at all.
As result of the latest investigation, two homes were searched and the following items were seized: a loaded 9mm handgun with the serial number removed, 40 rounds of ammunition, 40 grams of cocaine, 10 grams of psilocybin (magic) mushrooms and several Tribal vests (or cuts.)
Paulson was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition, possession of a firearm obtained by crime, tampering with a firearm serial number, and possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order. He is scheduled to appear in court in Fort McMurray on Feb. 28.
George was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a controlled substance. His court appearance is scheduled for March 28.
A female associate, 55-year-old Lynn Cardinal-Storey, was also charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Anyone with information concerning this investigation is encouraged to contact Fort McMurray’s dedicated gang tipline at 780-788-GANG.
ALERT is a provincial agency that investigates serious and organized crime in Alberta. Members include Alberta Sheriffs, Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service, Medicine Hat Police Service, and RCMP.