Raids in Kelowna, Beaverdell part of $13M drug bust by Calgary police

The Calgary Police Service has revealed the reasoning behind multiple raids in the Okanagan last week.

Search warrants were executed in Kelowna and Beaverdell in connection to an eight-month investigation into the illegal sale of drugs through the website www.thechronfather.ca.

According to the CPS, suspects were selling psilocybin and cannabis to buyers across Canada through online purchases and it’s alleged that since January 2021, sellers collected more than $11 million to fund organized crime activities.

In total, five search warrants were executed simultaneously at properties in Kelowna, Beaverdell and Calgary and resulted in police seizing:

• Approximately $13 million worth of cannabis, including roughly 2,636 kilograms of dried cannabis and cannabis plants, 7.2 kilograms of shatter, and various amounts of cannabis oils/resin and edibles.
• More than $85,000 worth of psilocybin, also known as mushrooms, in both dried and gummy forms.
• $63,000 in Canadian currency.
• Four rifles and various ammunition.
• A Ford F350 as proceeds of crime.

In addition, the Alberta Civil Forfeiture Office has commenced proceeding against funds in an Alberta bank account, while the same process is underway against a number of assets in BC.

Two people were arrested at the time of the searches and charges are pending, but the CPS did not specify whether those people were arrested in BC or Alberta.

Insp. Phil Hoetger from the CPS technical operations section said that by operating outside of the regulated cannabis production, processing and distribution channels, these individuals put citizens at risk.

“Not only did purchases made through this website fund illegal organized criminal activities, production and storage facilities of this size are often the target of accompanying violence that puts our community at risk,” he explained.

“Additionally, without any regulatory oversight, there were no measures in place to ensure that these products were safe for consumption.”

The investigation initially began in April 2021 when the CPS was told about the illicit online sale of psilocybin and cannabis products, which was believed to be operating out of a Calgary residence.

As the investigation continued, police identified several properties in the Okanagan that were believed to be functioning as production, distribution and storage sites for the operation, the CPS said.

The investigation is ongoing and the CPS is asking anyone with relevant information to contact them at 403-266-1234 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.