Almost $1M worth of drugs seized by police during property search in East Village

An investigation that was launched this summer targeting individuals believed to be involved in organized drug trafficking in the city has resulted in charges against two people.

The Gang Enforcement Team (GET) initiated an investigation in July in response to the recent increase in violence and shootings in the city.

On August 15, GET executed a search warrant on a property in the 500 block of Riverfront Avenue S.E. with help from the Tactical Unit.

The apartment was contaminated with suspected fentanyl powder and the CPS SAFE team was called in to deal with the substance.

A man tried to flee the scene when police showed up and he was eventually taken into custody after struggling with officers. Another man was also taken into custody from the scene.

A search was also conducted on a vehicle in the parkade of the building.

"This is a significant seizure for the Calgary Police Service," said Staff Sergeant Kyle Grant of the Strategic Enforcement Unit in a release. "These drugs had the potential to be very dangerous to our community and we will continue to target individuals who are involved in organized drug activity in our city."

Police seized the following items during the execution of the search warrants:

• 4,441.4 grams of fentanyl, with an estimated street value of $886,240
• 968.9 grams of ketamine, with an estimated street value of $80,000
• 26.6 grams of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $2,600
• 13.2 grams of fentanyl powder, with an estimated street value of $2,600
• 77.3 grams of prescription pharmaceuticals
• 22.393 kilograms of phenacetin, a commonly used cutting agent
• $1,640 in Canadian currency
• Fentanyl production lab equipment and associated colouring powders

Joshua Lloyd Okabe, 33, of Calgary, is charged with four counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, and one count each of production of a controlled substance, possession of proceeds of crime and resisting arrest. He is also facing three counts of breaching a court order and is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 23, 2019.

Darwin Buccat, 23, of Calgary, is charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. He is expected to appear in court on Sept. 20, 2019.

Anyone with information about drugs or firearms offences is asked to call The Calgary Police Service non-emergency number at 403-266-1234, or 9-1-1 for a crime in progress.