Edmonton police bust illegal booze network, 10 people charged yeg
The city police Focused Intervention and Apprehension Team began investigating in late 2020 after a spike in liquor thefts. Officers uncovered a large market for stolen booze, as well as a coordinated distribution network supplying the liquor to legitimate local businesses, acting Staff Sgt. David Graham said during a Tuesday news conference.Graham said three business owners have been charged, however, there were “many more” involved and they will not be getting off “scot-free.
As part of the operation, police seized roughly $130,000 worth of liquor, 350,000 unmarked cigarettes worth around $35,000, 1.49 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of about $185,000, 730 fentanyl pills worth around $73,000, and 270 Xanax pills with a value of around $5,400. The search warrants were executed over several months at multiple homes and businesses across Edmonton.
“Liquor theft in itself, maybe that doesn’t strike a chord, but this is just one commodity that these criminal networks use,” said Graham.