Nine charged in cocaine trafficking bust

CALGARY- CALGARY- Nine people, including one drug kingpin, have been charged in connection with a trafficking operation that supplied crime organizations and street gangs in Alberta with large amounts of cocaine.

According to the Alberta government, the arrests come after a year-long investigation by the Calgary Combined Special Forces Unit.

In the past month investigators performed three search warrants on residential properties in Calgary, Red Deer and Lethbridge. Eleven kilograms of cocaine ($1.5M street value) were seized and nine arrested.

The nine peopel arrested are:

– Ryan Harper, 31, of Calgary faces 26 charges

– Jeremy Lorenowicz, 29, of Calgary faces three charges

– Joshua Lorenowicz, 23, of Calgary faces four charges

– Jeffery Donaldson, 24, of Calgary faces two charges

– Matthew Earles, 23, of Red Deer faces two charges

– Brent Cyr, 21, of Red Deer faces two charges

– Cameron O’Connell, 20, of Red Deer faces two charges

– Nicholas Soto, 27, of Calgary faces 14 charges

– Reade Wilkinson, 28, faces two charges.

All arrested face drug trafficking, firearm and proceeds of crime charges for their suspected involvement in multi-kilogram shipments of cocaine from Vancouver to other areas of Canada – some as far as Newfoundland.

“We believe that these arrests will hinder the criminal activities of the gangs who were once supplied by these individuals,” said Inspector Kevin Forsen, officer in charge of the investigation. “No doubt, this will ultimately help to reduce the level of violence on Calgary streets and throughout the province.”

This bust is the third of its kind in the past two months, with the other two in Edmonton and the Medicine Hat area.