A 29 year old Airdrie man is wanted on a province-wide warrant as of press time, following a cocaine bust at an Airdrie residence on Dec. 4.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) raided an Airdrie home after a two-month investigation into a cocaine trafficking operation.
ALERTís Calgary Combined Special Forces Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) - along with the Calgary Police and Airdrie RCMP - executed seven search warrants and arrested Jordan Schwebius of Airdrie and Sidney Nayel of Calgary.
A province-wide warrant was issued for 29 year old Airdrie resident Ryan Venn.
Once the officers were inside the Airdrie home, they seized more than 15 kg of Phenacetin or ìSuperbuff,î as well as over $100,000 worth of cocaine.
Phenacetin is a common cutting agent used to dilute the purity of cocaine in order to maximize profits, according to police.
Sgt. Glenn Uchytil of CFSEU said, ìthe seizure further highlights the dangers for drug users and the unknown chemical substances added to drugs.î
The investigation into the operation began after CFSEU was tipped off about the accused distributing cocaine to dial-a-dope traffickers.
Uchytil says police also found digital scales, empty kilogram cocaine wrappers, as well as the Phenacetin valued at over $40,000.
Schwebius, a 30 year old man from Airdrie is facing nine drug-related charges, and Nayel, 52, is facing four charges for breach of recognizance.
Airdrie RCMP Sgt. Gordon Sage says the combined efforts of a number of different police forces played a major role in the arrests.
ìEveryone has their own jurisdictions, but when it comes to organized crime like this, egos have to be checked at the door and we all have to work together,î said Sage.
ìHistory shows that when we donít work together and donít share resources, we fail.î
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ryan Venn is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
