Undercover drug trafficking crackdown at CTrain stations results in 268 charges

Calgary police have laid 268 criminal charges against 40 people in an undercover drug trafficking operation at CTrain stations. Dubbed the Drug Undercover Street Team (DUST), officers worked at various CTrain stations during the three-week crackdown, according to a Calgary Police Service release issued Thursday. 

Supt. Cliff O'Brien said the Calgary Police Service has conducted these types of operations before at transit stations.

"When we're out talking to people, we're going to offer support for them. But at the end of the day, we're the police and we need to do police work," O'Brien said.

"Public spaces in this city need to be safe for everyone, and if that means that we have to write summonses to people, if that means that we have to charge them criminally, then that's our job."

O'Brien said the issue is when those arrested may return to transit stations in a few weeks and "go back to the behaviour that they were doing before." To curb that return to drug trafficking activity in public areas, police imposed certain conditions of release for those arrested, including no-go areas for CTrain lines and transit property, O'Brien said.

During the undercover operation, DUST targeted CTrain stations with the highest call volumes from the public in relation to crime and social disorder, police said.

Enforcement occurred March 7-24 at the Sunalta, Westbrook, Brentwood, Dalhousie, Crowfoot, Heritage, Southland, Anderson, Chinook, Eighth Street, Rundle, Marlborough and Whitehorn stations.

There were 58 undercover drug purchases made involving 40 alleged drug traffickers, police said. Drugs seized included fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, morphine and Xanex.

Calgary Transit peace officers were "instrumental" in the operation, the release stated. Transit officers assisted police with arresting suspects and transporting them to the arrest processing facility, CPS said in an email to CBC News.

DUST worked with the Calgary Drug Treatment Court to evaluate if those arrested had this court as an option. Drug treatment courts aim to provide treatment services and an alternative to prison for nonviolent offenders facing drug addiction.

"Recognizing some of the drug traffickers were also addicts, the officers provided literature and contact information for organizations that assist in securing treatment, shelter and employment to all those who were arrested," the release said.

CPS said it also contacted the Calgary Indigenous Court "for culturally appropriate assistance."

Police said weapons were also found during the undercover operation arrests, including 21 knives, two machetes and a handgun. 

The investigation is ongoing, according to police.