ALERT Bust, February 19, 2026
FORT McMURRAY — Eight people are facing charges following a two year investigation into a drug trafficking network with links to northern Alberta, Edmonton and British Columbia’s Lower Mainland.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams, known as ALERT, says the investigation, called Project Fast, began in April 2024 and focused initially on drug activity based in Fort McMurray before expanding to include connections across provincial boundaries.
Police say the operation resulted in the seizure of roughly $600,000 worth of drugs and cash, along with multiple firearms. Investigators executed search warrants at five homes, including two in Fort McMurray, two in Surrey and one in Coquitlam.
Seized items included more than five kilograms of cocaine, over one kilogram of methamphetamine and about $51,000 in cash. Officers also recovered two handguns, three carbine rifles, a shotgun, prohibited extended magazines and ammunition. The firearms are undergoing forensic and ballistics analysis to determine whether they were used in other crimes.
ALERT says 23 criminal charges related to drug trafficking have been laid against eight suspects from Fort McMurray, Edmonton and Grande Prairie. The accused were released from custody and are expected to appear in court in March.
The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Wood Buffalo RCMP, Edmonton Police Service and several police services in British Columbia.
ALERT is funded by the Alberta government and brings together officers from multiple policing agencies to investigate organized crime across the province.
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