$3M in drugs confiscated from Calgary homes, says enforcement agency

Millions of dollars worth of drugs have been seized in two Calgary busts.

Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) says it seized methamphetamine and fentanyl worth nearly $3 million during two Calgary investigations in July. 

ALERT Staff Sgt. Shawn Wallace said it's the largest seizure the group has had in the province.

Two homes in the northeast neighbourhood of Coventry Hills were searched during the first bust on July 20. 

The agency said that search resulted in finding guns, 12,609 grams of methamphetamine, 1,201 grams of fentanyl powder, 3,000 tablets of fentanyl and 412 grams of cocaine.

Three people were arrested in connection to that search. 

In another bust, on July 28, two homes were searched in the Spruce Cliff and Thorncliffe neighbourhoods. ALERT said two firearms and 28,355 grams of methamphetamine were seized. 

Two people were arrested in connection with that incident, the agency said. 

ALERT also seized a Nissan SUV that was outfitted with a hydraulic hidden compartment where a handgun was located. 

It is believed, Wallace said, the people who were arrested are related to organized crime groups. 

"For this organized crime group, I mean, it certainly will have been disrupted, but it takes a lot more work to truly dismantle," he said. 

"It's a small dent. It certainly will save lives in the short term. But this is just probably a good-sized sample of what is going through and in and around Calgary." 

In both investigations, ALERT said it received assistance from the Calgary Police Service and the RCMP. 

ALERT, which is funded by the Alberta government, includes members from law enforcement organizations across the province. It targets gang activity, drug trafficking and domestic violence.