April 19, 2022
-Calgary Herald
Calgary police have made a major drug seizure and shut down a drug lab operating out of a home in the city’s northwest.
Police say they identified two suspects engaged in activity consistent with drug trafficking in July of 2021.
After an eight-month investigation, investigators executed search warrants at two properties in Chestermere and at a home in the 400 block of Nolan Hill Drive N.W. on April 7.
According to a news release, police found a sophisticated production lab that was turning out methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine.
Among the drugs seized were 27.21 kilograms of fentanyl powder valued at over $4 million, 4.57 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at $380,000, two kilograms of cocaine valued at $140,000, crack cocaine and more than 50,000 other various pills valued at $1.1 million.
Police also found a Glock handgun and silencer, 900 rounds of ammunition, 100 kilograms of an unknown cutting agent and $10,000 cash.
Sgt. Todd Nichol of the Calgary Police Service District 4 operations team said it was extremely concerning to see drug production at this scale taking place in a residential community.
“Aside from exploiting those who are most vulnerable, drug trafficking attracts unwanted and unnecessary violence to our community. This was a significant seizure for our service that should directly impact the safety of Calgarians,” said Nichol.
Police arrested two people at Calgary International Airport in relation to the investigation.
Daniel Heng, 39, and Edric Padua-Balmes, 30, both of Chestermere, are each charged with three counts of production of a controlled substance, three counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possession of the proceeds of crime.
