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Major find of fentanyl pills in two Calgary neighbourhoods related to Lethbridge investigation

Nov 2, 2016 | 7:32 PM

CALGARY – More than 3,700 fentanyl pills are off the street and three more men have been arrested in a case related to a Lethbridge Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) bust.

On October 13th, an ALERT team found 193 pills in a search of two homes and two vehicles in the city. The raids also led to the seizures of 24 g of cocaine, $3,400 in cash, and a loaded Smith and Wesson handgun.

An alleged member of the Mad Cowz gang, 29-year-old Corey Amyotte from Manitoba, was arrested along with two other suspects, Ali Zalfo also of Manitoba, 22, and Jerry Bull from Calgary, 33. The three face a combined 32 drug and firearm charges.

A week later, on October 20, a vehicle stop at Aldersyde, north of High River, led to the seizure of 584 pills. Police believe that vehicle was bound for Lethbridge.

Two suspects, identified as 33-year old William Hatch, and 28-year old Awet Abraha,  both from Lethbridge, face a total of six drug-related charges.

In both cases, police believe the pills were being supplied by groups in either Calgary or Edmonton, and were destined to be sold across Lethbridge and the Blood Indian Reserve.

Last Friday (Oct 28), 2,771 pills were found in a vehicle at a home in Calgary’s Killarney neighbourhood that had been identified as a potential fentanyl stash site, based on the seizure in Aldersyde. 

The fentanyl was found with $11,620 cash proceeds of crime and 47 unknown pills. The home itself was allegedly being used as a cocaine conversion lab and 23 grams of cocaine and 135 grams of a suspected buffing agent were seized.

Earlier in the week, on October 26, ALERT searched an apartment in Calgary’s Hillhurst area, where investigators seized 943 fentanyl pills, nine hydromorphone pills, and $6,000 in cash.

Three Calgary men, 24 year old Sofonyas Fkade, 30 year old Bereketab Gedecho and 22 year old Cody Bryant are facing various drug related charges.