Prince Albert Police Service Headquarters. Photo courtesy Prince Albert Police, Facebook.
A five-month special drug enforcement team investigation in Prince Albert led police to seize more than a kilogram of cocaine and make seven arrests on Sunday, including the arrest of a Little Red First Nation woman.
Jolie Bird, 37, of Little Red, is charged with trafficking and possession of cocaine and possession of proceeds of crime.
Prince Albert residents Kole Marchant, Alana Primeau, Cody Evans and Paige Klughart-McCormick are also charged, along with Edmonton men Salvin Mudaliar and Yousef Ismaeil.
They face charges ranging from conspiracy to traffic cocaine, to possession of property obtained by crime.
The police team, called the Prince Albert Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU), is focused on targeting criminal organizations, but officer in charge, Inspector Rob Thorarinson says they’re not tying this operation to gangs.
The operation has been dubbed “Project F-Kahuna” and involved a seizure of over a kilogram of cocaine, 10 grams of marijuana, $30,000 in cash, four vehicles, an all-terrain vehicle, and numerous electronics.
Police say six of the accused appeared at Prince Albert Provincial Court on Monday, with one person released on a recognizance to appear in court at a a later date.