Massive Drug Raid in Edmonton Seizes $1M in Fentanyl, Meth, Cocaine, Heroin

In one of the largest drug busts in Edmonton’s history, police have seized over $1 million worth of fentanyl, meth, cocaine, and heroin, following a months-long investigation into inter-provincial trafficking.
Over 66 kilograms of hard drugs were seized, including methamphetamine valued at $250,650, cocaine worth $696,000, fentanyl at $300,000, and heroin valued at $28,400. Authorities also found 20 kilograms of buffing agent which is used to dilute narcotics for sale.
Edmonton Police Service (EPS) hailed the operation as one of the largest drug seizures in the city’s history.
“This investigation is believed to be one of the largest, if not the largest, seizure of controlled substances in EPS history,” Staff Sergeant David Paton, with the Edmonton Drug and Gang Enforcement Section, said in the press release.
“Intercepting this huge volume of extremely harmful street drugs before they wreak havoc in our city is a rewarding outcome for our investigators, who have worked tirelessly for months on this operation.”
During the recent seizure, police also confiscated five handguns, three of which were loaded at the time they were seized. Police said two of the firearms had defaced serial numbers. One of the handguns originated from the United States while the other two were stolen in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
EPS officers also seized four vehicles with hidden compartments. Along with the drugs and firearms, they found about $20,000 in currency.
Police said three male suspects were involved in the inter-provincial drug trafficking, moving drugs into and out of Alberta and distributing them in Edmonton, including the inner-city.
The suspects have been charged with drug and firearm offences. Jesse Koble, 29, faces 27 charges, Mitchell Steeg, 31, nine charges, and Steven Santillana, 34, two charges.
Edmonton police seized 67 firearms in August and 538 so far this year. At the same point last year, 679 firearms had been seized, according to the Sept. 12 report.