$1.4M of cocaine, related drugs seized from two Edmonton homes

More than a million dollars in cocaine and related substances have been seized from two homes in Edmonton, police say.

The June 8 seizure included 11 kilograms of cocaine, 84 kilograms of a cocaine buffing agent called phenacetin, slightly less than a kilo ofketamine and $15,465 in cash, according to a Thursdaynewsrelease fromAlberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT).

The total value of the drugs seized is estimated at $1.4 million, police say.

Most of the drugs and chemicals were found in an apartment in the Pembina neighbourhood,located in northwest Edmonton. That apartment was where the cocaine was being packaged and pressed.

Insp. Mark Cochlinsaid the seizure was part of athree-month investigation known as Operation Elegance.

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This seizure of phenacetin, used todilute the purity of the cocaine to maximize profits, is one of the largest ever in Alberta, police say.

Phenacetinis a pharmaceutical that was once used as a pain reliever but was discontinued as both a prescription and non-prescription drug in 1973 over concerns about it leading to kidney damage and potentially cancer. The federal government now classifies phenacetin as anindustrial chemicaland monitors its presence.

Cochlin said theamount of phenacetinfound isworrying symptom as it suggests a larger problem exists.

"This amount of buffspeaks to the volume of cocaine potentially moving through that residenceand ending up on the streets," said Cochlin.

Cochlin said police don'tknow the buffing agent, which he described as the "bane of our existence",had been obtained by the Edmonton operation.

"We're continuing our investigations to find out how this is coming into our province."

A 26-year-old man has been charged with drug possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime. According to the news release, the man was known to ALERT, having been observed inprevious investigations.

"I think this is a prime example of an individual who is associated to organized crime, who may have been wanting to fill a void in organized crime, or just newly creating a network for himself," Cochlin said.

"This is a timely takedown of this individualbecause we believe we nipped it in the bud."

The operation was conducted by ALERT's organized crime team, with support from Edmonton city police and Alberta sheriffs.