drug report calgary

Police seize waterfront home, Lamborghinis, and millions of dollars in drugs bound for Alberta

Calgary man shot last month involved in $55m bust.

Social Sharing

Fifteen people and a Calgary business have been charged following a cross-border, $55-million drug bust.

It's believed they were moving cocaine and methamphetamine produced by Mexican cartels to Alberta, says a police organization dedicated to serious and organized crime. 

Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) said Wednesday the investigation started in 2020 and involved Calgary police, U.S. Homeland Security and officers in Niagara, Ont., Saskatchewan and Osoyoos, B.C.

Fifteen people now face more than 80 charges. 

Meth and cocaine believed to be on the way to Alberta was seized in the United States and elsewhere in Canada, ALERT said. Lead investigator Sgt. Tara McNeil said the drugs seized were destined for the "streets of Calgary" and across the province. 

Among those charged is Calgarian Talal Fouani, 46, said McNeil. 

In August, Fouani and his wife were shot in his Bentley outside their southwest Calgary home. 

Fouani survived, but his wife, Nakita Baron, 31, died of her injuries.

CBC News learned that Fouani was out on bail awaiting trial on organized crime charges. Now Fouani faces charges related to laundering proceeds of crime, participation in a criminal organization and possession of property obtained by crime, ALERT says.  

Fourteen other people, including Belal Fouani, and a company called Fouani Equity Funds Ltd., have been charged with offences ranging from participation in a criminal organization, importation of a controlled substance, laundering proceeds of crime and drug trafficking.

But McNeil says ALERT alleges that a man named Ricco King, 50, is believed to be the top figure in the crime organization. King faces charges of trafficking, laundering the proceeds of crime and participation in a criminal organization. 

McNeil said two multimillion-dollar mansions — in Halifax and Niagara-on-the-Lake — belonging to King have been placed under criminal restraint. 

McNeil said all of the accused were charged in Calgary, and their court cases will be tried in the city. 

McNeil said they believe the drugs originated in Mexico, and the "criminal organization" had established links with cartels in that country. However, she said the organization didn't have a name and wasn't defined by age or race.

"It was a group of people that were working together for the benefit of the group and to make as much money as possible and import as many drugs as they possibly could," she said. 

ALERT dubbed the investigation "Project Cobra."

In a media release, ALERT said meth and cocaine bound for Alberta has been seized in Wyoming, Los Angeles, Lake Koocanusa, B.C., and North Battleford, Sask. Drugs were also seized in Calgary. 

"The numbers are staggering … $55 million in drugs intercepted, nearly one metric tonne of methamphetamine that was destined for Alberta communities," said Supt. Marc Cochlin, ALERT chief executive officer. 

"The amount of harm that mountain of methamphetamine brings to our communities is very disturbing." 

ALERT says 928 kilograms of methamphetamine and six kilograms of cocaine were intercepted, and about $7 million worth of property has been seized or placed under criminal restraint.

A $3.5-million home in Niagara-on-the-Lake, two Lamborghinis, a Porsche and classic cars are among the possessions under criminal restraint. These are all the profits of a organized crime, said Cochlin. 

Nineteen firearms were also seized, which included handguns, rifles, submachine guns and suppressors.

Three people face more than five charges in connection with Project Cobra:

• William Whiteford, 39, from Leduc County, charged with 20 offences.
• Elias Ade, 38, from Calgary, charged with 12 offences.
• Jarett Mackenzie, 32, from Calgary, charged with 6 offences.

Cochlin said he believes this is likely the biggest drug bust in Alberta's history. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Digital journalist

Jade Markus is a former digital journalist at CBC Calgary.

Related Stories

• Top stories from CBC Calgary
• Alberta won't participate in federal efforts to seize prohibited weapons, Shandro says
• Former Alberta justice minister apologizes for racist videos — if they depict 'real events'
• Alberta COVID-19 deaths up 33, hospitalizations jump by 137

Information | Rezoning for Housing

Public hearing on April 22, 2024. Proposed rezoning will support more housing options in all communities.

• Skip to main content

Information |

Rezoning for Housing - Public hearing on April 22, 2024. Proposed rezoning will support more housing options in all communities.

  Learn more

Report a crime

​​ All traffic collisions must be reported in person at your nearest District Office.

Reports you cannot submit online

The following crimes may require a dispatched call and cannot be reported online: 

To report any of the above crimes, please call the police non-emergency line at 403-266-1234. For emergencies or crimes in progress, call 9-1-1.

If you are seeking information about mental health supports, please contact our community partner, 211 Alberta.

Reports you can submit online

Filing a false police report is a crime.

Note: Please turn off your pop-up blocking software before filing the report.

The Calgary Police Service Citizen Online Police Report System is powered by the Online Citizen Police Reporting system from Coplogic Inc.

Other reports you can submit online

Submit a tip to crime stoppers:.

Crime Stoppers is a separate entity that takes anonymous tips about criminal activity that is then passed onto the CPS. Report crime anonymously by:

Please note that not all tips submitted to Crimestoppers are investigated.

Submit a Drug Tip

If you have information about a drug house, or people who are selling drugs, you can report this information online.

If you want to remain anonymous, you must submit your information to  calgarycrimestoppers.org .

Report graffiti or vandalism

If you observe graffiti, please report it by calling 3-1-1.

Include the location (or closest address), description of the object the graffiti is on and, if possible, a photo of the graffiti. Reporting graffiti to 311 ensures the graffiti will be cleaned up and investigated.

CALL YOUR LOCAL POLICE

In an emergency always call 911

Non-emergency 403-266-1234

9 Calgarians charged as part of alleged Western Canada drug ring after 18-month investigation

Nine people are facing a total of 73 charges following an 18-month investigation into what police are calling "a violent drug trafficking network operating in Calgary and throughout Western Canada."

The investigation was started in early 2020 by the Calgary police guns and gangs unit, targeting those thought to be contributing to a rise in gun violence in the city.

Members of the Saskatoon Integrated Crime Reduction Team (S-ICRT), a joint taskforce between the Saskatoon Police Service and Saskatchewan RCMP, were also involved.

"Through intelligence, we identified several individuals believed to be working together in a sophisticated drug traffic network," CPS said in a release.

"Investigators allege that this network had been engaged in conflict with a rival drug trafficking network in the city, and that combined, the two groups were responsible for more than 20 violent events in Calgary that spanned just over a year, including a double homicide that occurred in April 2019."

That led to 23 search warrants being executed on residences and vehicles in Calgary, Banff, and Saskatoon between April 2020 and May of this year.

A number of items were seized, including:

• Six firearms, including a rifle with a modified barrel and prohibited magazine and a replica Glock handgun with a 3D-printed receiver;
• Five airsoft guns, realistic in appearance to real firearms;
• More than $300,000 in Canadian currency;
• A BMW X5, which was equipped with a sophisticated hydraulic trapdoor that contained one of the seized firearms. Investigators also believe that the trapdoor was used to store and transport other illicit items, and;
• More than $55,000 worth of drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl pills and patches, crack cocaine, marijuana, phenacetin, benzodiazepine, and prescription pills.

Other items seized include batons, bear spray, body armour, a Taser, money counters, cell phones, drug packaging and paraphernalia, and various ammunition.

"Due to the sheer number of individuals involved, we had to narrow our focus to those who put our community most at risk," said CPS Staff Sgt. Greg Cooper.

"From start to finish, this investigation required an incredible amount of coordination and patience from our investigators, who worked tirelessly to hold these individuals accountable. Though our work is not over, these charges are significant, and a major step towards protecting Calgarians put at risk by drug trafficking and the related violence that follows."

Nine Calgarians were arrested, including:

• Amandeep Saggu, 31, of Calgary, has been charged with five organized crime and drug offences, including instructing the commission of an offence for a criminal organization, trafficking of controlled substances, production of a controlled substance and possession of property obtained by crime. He is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 17.
• Ravneet Gill, 25, of Calgary, has been charged with three organized crime and drug offences, including participation in activities of a criminal organization, production of a controlled substance and possession of property obtained by crime. He is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 17.
• Prabhjyot Bhatti, 22, of Calgary, has been charged with five organized crime and drug offences, including participation in activities of a criminal organization, trafficking of controlled substances, production of a controlled substance and possession of property obtained by crime. He is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 17.
• Jarmanjit Datewas, 23, of Calgary, has been charged with five organized crime and drug offences, including participation in activities of a criminal organization, trafficking of controlled substances, production of a controlled substance and possession of property obtained by crime. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 7, 2022.
• Jaskaran Sidhu, 22, of Calgary, was charged with 27 weapons and breach offences, including discharge a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and possession of a weapon contrary to a prohibition order.
• Jasman Dhaliwal, 19, of Calgary, was charged with 10 weapons and breach offences, including possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possession of a weapon obtained by crime and failing to comply with a sentence or disposition. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 17, 2022.
• Steven Whyte, 27, of Calgary, was charged with ten drug, weapons and breach offences, including possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possession of a weapon contrary to a prohibition order. He is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 28, 2022.
• Safwan Riaz, 22, of Calgary, was charged with four drug offences, including of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000. He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 3, 2022.
• Irkham Farooq, 23, of Calgary, was charged with four drug offences including possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 7, 2022.

"It is believed that these individuals provided support to the Calgary network by funding them for both drugs and legal fees," police said.

Calgary Top Stories

Community parade to celebrate Green Shirt Day gets underway at 10 a.m. in Calgary

Saturday night Calgary Gala raises over $1.6 million to keep STARS Air Ambulance flying

Oilers keep rolling with 4-2 victory over reeling Flames

Calgary police investigate assault at Market Mall

More than 300 athletes from across Alberta competing in lifesaving championships in Calgary

Iranian official warns Israel that its embassies are not safe after deadly Damascus strike

No shots fired in southwest assault involving a firearm

School stories, art, teach kids about organ donation for humboldt broncos' green shirt day, ctvnews.ca top stories.

A battle for hope: the brewing campaign clash between the Conservatives and the NDP

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's path to power may be by prosecuting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's past eight years in government, but his road to victory is painted NDP orange.

Miami-area shootout leaves security guard and suspect dead, police officer and 6 others injured

A security guard was killed and a police officer shot before other officers killed a gunman in a shootout at a Miami-area shopping center Saturday that left several bystanders injured, authorities said.

Couple lucky to be alive after piece of Montreal highway crashes into their windshield

A Montreal couple is having a hard time driving without stress and is unhappy with the city's maintenance after a chunk of highway crashed into their windshield while driving on Thursday night.

5 tips for finding the best diet that works for you

With dieting, the conventional wisdom says a person needs to be in calorie-deficit mode to lose weight. If you eat more calories than you burn, you gain weight; if you eat fewer calories, you lose weight.

Will it be cloudy during Monday's solar eclipse? Environment Canada seems to think so

Weather forecasts are predicting that cities along the path of totality during Monday's solar eclipse will have clouds that could obstruct the once-in-a-lifetime celestial event.

Five things to watch for in the Canadian business world in the coming week

Five things to watch for in the Canadian business world in the coming week:

Man arrested for setting fire at Sen. Bernie Sanders' office; motive remains unclear

A man was charged Sunday with setting a fire outside the Vermont office of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, federal prosecutors said.

Solar Eclipse | How to tell if your solar eclipse glasses are fake

As Ontarians prepare for Monday’s solar eclipse, many are discovering that the solar viewing glasses they have purchased may not be safe.

2 women who say abortion restrictions put them in medical peril feel compelled to campaign for Biden

A Texas woman who went into premature labor, developed sepsis and nearly died and a Louisiana woman who said restrictive abortion laws prevented her from getting medical help for a miscarriage are now campaigning for U.S. President Joe Biden as the Democrat highlights how women's health is being affected by the overturning of federal abortion protections.

Shopping Trends

The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.  Read about us.

Editor's Picks

There's a total solar eclipse in canada next week, and here’s how to prepare, 14 of the best interactive dog toys to stimulate your dog's mind, if you're ready to dip your toes into spring cleaning, you'll want to order at least one of these amazon products, if you love cooking, feast your eyes on these 18 aesthetically pleasing kitchen products, 19 amazon canada products that'll solve a bunch of your little problems, our guide to the best office chairs in canada in 2024 (and where to get them), 20 gifts that are so great, you'll want to keep them for yourself, 19 of the best mother's day gifts under $50, 19 foolproof mother's day gifts to order if you want to get your shopping done early, if you hate hate razors and waxing, allow me to introduce you to your new favourite at-home hair removal devices, 16 eye creams that people with mature skin swear by, rosemary oil and 11 other products that reviewers swear by for hair growth.

Led by a clutch power play and 33 saves from Calvin Pickard, Edmonton inched closer to top spot in the NHL's Pacific Division on Saturday.

1 dead in 3-vehicle crash near Edmonton International Airport Friday

One person is dead after a multi-vehicle crash Friday night near the Edmonton International Airport.

'It's painful for a parent': Mother protests in support of son with autism who was arrested while playing

The mother of a teen with autism who was arrested by RCMP while playing says she has never received an apology.

'Not pleased with the result': Lethbridge Hurricanes looking ahead to next season after first-round exit

The Lethbridge Hurricanes were bounced out of the playoffs earlier this week by the Swift Current Broncos after a double-overtime thriller.

'Hasn't lost its momentum': Green Shirt Day continues to inspire 6 years after Humboldt Broncos crash

This Saturday marks the sixth anniversary of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash and the start of Green Shirt Day, honouring the legacy of Logan Boulet.

Castle Mountain ski season makes a late comeback as resort set to close Sunday

Castle Mountain Resort is making use of the spring snowfall before they close for the season Sunday.

Vehicle plunges into Fraser River, driver's whereabouts unknown

Crews were able to locate a vehicle that somehow ended up in the Fraser River overnight Saturday, but the fate of its driver is currently unknown.

Langford park closed after person drops off 'explosive material': RCMP

The West Shore RCMP say that Veterans Memorial Park is closed to the public after someone left “explosive material” in the area.

Woman stabs taxi driver with needle, steals cab: Mission RCMP

Mounties in Mission say a woman assaulted a taxi driver and stole his vehicle on Friday night, and are asking for witnesses to come forward.

Vancouver Island

How A.I. and underwater microphones are protecting whales in B.C.

On a two-kilometre stretch of Boundary Pass near Saturna Island, underwater microphones known as hydrophones are used to capture whales in action. It’s a practice that’s been in place for years, but newly implemented technology is helping give mariners a heads up when a whale could be in their path.

On-reserve child poverty more than double B.C.'s average, according to data

In late February the First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society released their annual Poverty Report Card, announcing that in 2021, 14 per cent of children were living in poverty - while on reserves this is more than double the provincial rate.

Saskatoon explores moving Via Rail line to enhance connectivity

Canada's largest passenger train service and a crown corporation, Via Rail, connects the nation's major cities and is at the centre of a new proposal in Saskatoon.

Sask. dancers take stage in Saskatoon

Thousands of dancers from clubs representing all of Saskatchewan gathered at Prairieland Park on Saturday for the annual Maximum Elite Elevation Tour Dance Competition

Blades take series in five

The Saskatoon Blades are on to the second round of the Western Hockey League (WHL) playoffs after a 6-2 win over the Prince Albert Raiders at SaskTel Centre on Friday.

First look at memorial D-Day statue takes place, honouring Royal Regina Rifles

Members of the Royal Regina Rifles along with many dignitaries gathered on the grounds of the legislature Saturday for the first look at a new memorial statue.

Interested in starting a garden? Here are some tips for beginners

Now that spring is here, some people may be thinking about starting a garden but don’t know where to start.

Here's when street sweeping will begin in Regina

Street sweeping will soon begin in different neighbourhoods in Regina to clear away leaves, as well as remove sand and debris from roads.

'Once-in-a-lifetime event': Next major eclipse in Toronto won't happen for another 120 years

A GTA professor says the upcoming major eclipse is quite literally a “once-in a lifetime event” as the last time it happened in the Toronto region was 1925 and the next one is expected to be in 2144.

Impaired driver charged and injured after crashing into tree in Scarborough neighbourhood: police

A person has been sent to hospital and is facing charges after crashing into a tree while driving under the influence in a residential area in Scarborough, police say.

For some who are spiritually inclined, eclipse has added significance

When the Earth, moon and sun align on Monday, Kendra Pape-Green plans to be in a secluded spot in nature.

School in St. Jerome, Que. forced to toss thousands of counterfeit solar eclipse glasses

A school in Saint-Jerome, Que. was forced to toss out thousands of counterfeit solar eclipse glasses that were purchased on Amazon.

Man stabbed and dumped at a Montreal hospital, police investigating

Montreal police (SPVM) are investigating after a man with stab wounds was dropped off at a hospital on Sunday morning.

Nova Scotia premier joins calls for meeting with Trudeau about carbon pricing

Nova Scotia's Progressive Conservative premier has joined a call from leaders across the country asking for a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss carbon pricing.

'Women are getting paid and they're playing their favourite sport': recent women’s sports shattering viewing records

March Madness comes to a close this weekend, and this year on the women’s side, it’s been a ratings blockbuster.

Montreal Canadians superstar Carey Price on his life outside of hockey during visit to Halifax

NHL superstar and goalie for the Montreal Canadians, Carey Price, was recently in Halifax to take part in the Progress Club’s Sports Charity Dinner, which raises money for various charities around the city.

21-year-old facing charges after robbery at Winnipeg outlet mall

A 21-year-old man is facing several charges following a robbery at Outlet Collection Winnipeg on Friday.

Paw-sitive experience: Winnipeg Humane Society’s puppy yoga returns

Puppy yoga classes are back at the Winnipeg Humane Society (WHS), giving participants the chance to get fit with some furry friends.

'Most beautiful thing': Valour FC unveils alternate jersey honouring Indigenous culture

Valour FC is honouring Indigenous culture, science and knowledge through the design of its alternate jersey.

Here's how it feels in Ottawa, eastern Ontario this Sunday

The countdown for the solar eclipse day continues, but will Ottawa and eastern Ontario have clear skies?

Off-duty Ottawa police officer facing impaired driving charges following 2-vehicle collision

The Ottawa Police Service says one of its officers has been placed on administrative duties after getting involved in a two-vehicle collision while off-duty on March 17.

Northern Ontario

EXCLUSIVE | Canadian pilot who exposed Dominican Republic drug trafficking operation suing federal government, Pivot Airlines

A Canadian airline pilot who was detained in the Dominican Republic after he and his crew discovered more than 200 kilos of cocaine on board a flight to Toronto is seeking $16 million from the federal government and his former employer, Pivot Airlines.

Two men fined $2K each for illegal baitfish sales in northern Ont.

An Ontario man and a Quebec resident have each been fined $2,000 for their part in the illegal sale of baitfish in 2021.

Timmins shooting in March leads to April drug bust

Timmins police seized drugs, a handgun, ammo and cash during a raid of a Way Avenue home on Thursday.

Royal Canadian Navy visits Collingwood for unique training operation

The Royal Canadian Navy is in Collingwood this weekend for a unique training operation.

Two Orillia individuals charged for impaired driving within four hours

Two individuals have been arrested and charged with impaired driving within four hours in Orillia.

Students showcase skills at annual Simcoe County Regional Science and Technology Fair

Students from across the region are showcasing their skills at the Simcoe County Regional Science and Technology Fair this weekend.

Driver kills employee at Elora business

A 67 year-old man from Fergus has died after he was hit by a driver at an Elora business.

Two employees hurt during robbery at Fairview Park Mall

Waterloo regional police are trying to identify a man after two employees were hurt during a robbery in Kitchener.

One person from Milton killed in Brant county crash

A 33 year-old from Milton has died after a three-vehicle crash in Brant county.

London police investigating 'serious' crash between motorcycle, vehicle

London police are investigating following a serious collision between a motorcycle and a vehicle in the city’s east end early Saturday evening.

Still need a pair of glasses for Monday’s solar eclipse? CTV News London has got you covered

With Monday’s total solar eclipse set to bathe the region in darkness during the once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, many people still find themselves scrambling to find a pair of eclipse glasses. But if you need still a pair of glasses, we’ve got you covered.

Auston Matthews scores league-leading 64th goal in 4-2 Maple Leafs win over Canadiens

Auston Matthews scored his league-leading 64th of the season in a four-goal second period for the Maple Leafs, and Toronto defeated the archrival Montreal Canadiens 4-2 on Saturday night at the Bell Centre.

2 men suffer head, neck injuries after assault outside bar: Windsor police

Four suspects have been charged and one remains outstanding after two victims were repeatedly struck with beer bottles and kicked outside an Ouelette Avenue bar early Saturday morning.

2 teens charged after pointing airsoft handgun at residence

Two teenagers are facing charges after allegedly pointing an airsoft handgun at a residence in Wallaceburg on Saturday night.

Free solar eclipse glasses available on Sunday

Solar eclipse glasses have been a hot commodity in Windsor-Essex as the big day approaches.

Stay Connected

• Perspectives – Submission Guidelines
• Calgary’s Next Economy
• Ward Zero podcast
• LiveWire Calgary: In-house podcast
• Common Ground YYC
• Our mission
• Our operating model
• Who are we?
• Freelance Guidelines
• Privacy policy
• The Daily FLIP

Feel good about your information and become a local news champion today

Calgary police seize illegal drugs with street value over $2.5 million in pair of busts

The Calgary Police Service has charged three Calgarians in a pair of drug busts that saw the service seize kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine.

Police began an investigation earlier in the fall, after receiving a tip from Crime Stoppers about a suspected drug dealer in northeast Calgary. That tip led to a traffic stop against the suspect, followed by a trio of searches at two residences and a vehicle.

“These investigations highlight the importance of proactive policing and investigative work, and also having members of the community come forward to provide information about criminal activity,” said Staff Sergeant Vince Hancott with the Calgary Police Service.

Investigators seized 5.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1.3 kilograms of MDMA, 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl, and 39.8 grams of cocaine, worth an estimated $733,500.

Arshman Saleem Abdullah, 29, was charged with seven offences, including four counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, one count of manufacturing a controlled substance, one count of proceeds of crime and one count of possession of a dangerous weapon, and is set to appear in court on Nov. 10.

A second investigation into drug offences began after a man failed to provide police with valid identification during a motor vehicle collision on Oct. 20. Suspected illegal drugs were found by police in the vehicle.

Investigators executed a warrant to search a residence in southeast Calgary, which led to the seizure of 15.3 kilograms of cocaine, and 2.3 kilograms of fentanyl worth an estimated $1,882,310.

Elroy Brooks, 46, and Kattie Hagan, 37, have been charged with multiple offences including two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, two counts of breaching a release order, two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, and one count of proceeds of crime.

Brooks is due in court on Nov. 3, and Hagan on Dec. 6.

“In these instances, we were able to keep a sizable quantity of illicit drugs off our streets. To continue to keep our city safe, we encourage all Calgarians to report suspicious behaviour and criminal activity,” said SSgt. Hancott.

Anyone with information related to either of these incidents, or with information on other illicit activities is asked to call police at 403-266-1234, or submit tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers.

WHAT OTHERS ARE READING

Airdrie transit rfp could usher in a deeper regional transit conversation for calgary, perspectives: it’s time to ditch the jargon in calgary’s planning conversations, ucalgary engineering capstone projects solve some of the biggest problems facing alberta, prime minister announces $600 million for innovation to solve housing crisis, westjet encore pilots could issue strike notice on april 14, latest articles, canstruction celebrates southcentre’s 50th anniversary with retro game theme, calgary wants to curb dog bites through interactive youth education, more articles.

Connecting Calgarians

LiveWire Calgary , simply put, is telling the stories Calgary cares about. No, the ones they really care about. And we’re going to do it in a way that’s fair and agenda-free.

Stay Connected

©LiveWire Calgary. All rights reserved.

Discover more from LiveWire Calgary

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Information | Rezoning for Housing

Public hearing on April 22, 2024. Proposed rezoning will support more housing options in all communities.

• Skip to main content

Impaired driving

Impaired driving is when your ability to operate a motor vehicle is impaired by a substance, such as alcohol or drugs.

Penalties for a first offence are:

How do I report a driver that seems to be impaired? Call 9-1-1 . Do not attempt to follow the driver or place yourself in danger.

How much alcohol or cannabis can I consume and not be impaired? The only safe level is zero. Alcohol and drugs, including cannabis, affect everyone differently. There are many factors that can increase the effects on an individual.

Research from the Canadian Centre of Substance Use and Addiction  shows that, on average, cannabis use doubles the risk of being involved in a collision.

They found that driving skills are negatively affected after consuming cannabis, including the reduced ability to:

The risk of collision greatly increases if cannabis is consumed with alcohol. Mixing alcohol and drugs such as cannabis significantly increases impairment. In Alberta:

How is it determined if someone is impaired by alcohol or drugs? If an officer has a reasonable suspicion to believe a driver is impaired by a drug, the Criminal Code of Canada gives police the power to demand that person perform a physical sobriety test at the roadside, which would be conducted by a trained evaluating officer. If the evaluating officer determines the driver is impaired, then the driver can be arrested for impaired driving.

If the officer has formed the opinion that a person is impaired by a drug, then a drug recognition expert will be used to determine if the person is impaired and what drug category the person is impaired by.

Drug classification is established through an evaluation of the driver in accordance with the drug recognition expert program. This initially includes a standardized field sobriety test and if necessary, a full evaluation by a drug recognition expert.

The DRE test involves a 12-step evaluation which includes:

There are three outcomes expected of a completed evaluation:

If a DRE determines a driver is impaired, they will request a body-fluid sample. This can include urine or blood. Under Bill C-46, certified blood technicians can be used to obtain a blood sample which will be sent for analysis at the national lab.

Charges and provincial sanctions may be laid once the results of the body-fluid sample have been received and confirm the DRE evaluation.

What device do you use to establish how much alcohol or drugs someone has had? The Calgary Police Service uses the Alco-Sensor FST as the approved screening device to detect the presence of alcohol and the Intox EC/IR II as the instrument that provides the amount of alcohol in the person’s body.

Can I be arrested for driving under the influence of a prescription drug? Yes. If you are impaired by a prescription drug, you can be charged for driving while impaired. Some prescription drugs have warning labels specifically prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle for those taking the drug, or if the drug is not being taken as prescribed, you could be legally impaired.

Do I have to give a breath sample? If an officer reads a Criminal Code demand (screening device or evidential) to a person they are required to provide a breath sample.

What happens if I refuse to give a breath sample? You can be charged under the Criminal Code for refusing to provide a breath sample which carries the same jeopardy as being charged with impaired driving.

I heard there are ways someone can give a false sample, like smoking, chewing gum, or putting a penny under the tongue. Do they work? No. The instruments used for investigating impaired driving are designed to detect alcohol, nothing else. All persons providing breath samples will have their mouth checked for foreign objects prior to providing breath samples.

Can you receive an impaired on a bicycle? No.

Can I get an impaired in the morning? Yes. Alcohol can only eliminate from your body at a certain rate. If you went to bed with a high blood alcohol concentration and didn’t wait for the alcohol to eliminate from your body, you run the chance of still being impaired, and if caught, being charged.

What is the offence committed if someone is driving under the influence of a drug? Section 320.14(1)(A) of the Criminal Code covers the offence of impaired driving and includes if someone is impaired by a drug.

What is the penalty for impaired driving under the influence of a drug? The penalties for driving under the influence of a drug are the same as for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Under Alberta laws effective December 1, 2020, Bill 21 implemented serious, immediate and escalating consequences for impaired drivers. For more information visit safe roads Alberta.

Under Bill C-46:

Information on other changes to federal impaired driving laws is available on the  Government of Canada website .

What if I refuse to comply with the demand for the field sobriety test or the tests to be performed by a Drug Recognition Expert? Under section 254(5) of the Criminal Code you would be charged with refusing to comply and charged criminally, and the consequences would be the same as failing to comply or refusal of a breath demand.

CALL YOUR LOCAL POLICE

In an emergency always call 911

Non-emergency 403-266-1234

'I didn't expect that': Calgary property known for drug activity shut down by Alberta Sheriffs

You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account.

Article content

Rafael Orea ended work at 4 a.m. Tuesday. Eight hours later, he found someone trying to bust the door of a basement he was sharing with four others.

Orea, a business student at SAIT, rushed to the door and locked it. But soon a voice erupted from outside. “Police! Open the door,” said the person.

That person happened to be a sheriff official, there to shut down the house.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

• Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
• Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
• Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
• Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
• Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

• Access articles from across Canada with one account.
• Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
• Enjoy additional articles per month.
• Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Sign In or Create an Account

The officials gave him 30 minutes to gather his belongings and leave the property.

“I was like, ‘What?'” said Orea, who is originally from Mexico and lived in the place for three months.

Orea is one of 15 people displaced by a court order obtained by the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) unit of the Alberta Sheriffs to close a property in the southeast community of Raddison heights for three months starting Tuesday after an investigation found illicit drug activity being conducted in the house.

“Criminal activity that disrupts neighbourhoods and threatens the safety and well-being of the people who live in them will not be tolerated,” Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, said in a statement.

“Families have a right to feel safe in their own home and community.”

SCAN began their investigation in January following a number of complaints from several community members.

Investigators confirmed the complaints about drug activity, observing suspected drug transactions and many people coming and going from the property.

Between January and May, Calgary police visited the property 37 times, responding to calls about drug use and drug trafficking, disturbances, violence and threats.

Firefighters and paramedics have also responded to overdoses at the property in March and May.

In May, SCAN unit investigators served the property owner with a warning letter.

When the warning letter failed to result in any improvement, SCAN investigators and an Alberta Justice lawyer obtained a community safety order on Oct. 3.

But Orea, who spends most of his time at school or at work, wasn’t aware of the orders and said the final police visit came as a surprise.

Orea added he would hear people fighting upstairs, an area of the house shared by 10 roommates, all living in individual rooms divided by fake walls, although Orea never confirmed whether they were using drugs.

He had been renting the place because it cost him $400, a price that allowed him to cover his tuition and living costs. “Sometimes a room in a basement can cost you $700 to $800,” he said.

He doesn’t know if he’ll find a place soon as rents keep skyrocketing with an average one-bedroom apartment costing $1,736, according to RentFaster — a 13 per cent increase since last year.

Orea’s immediate option, before finding another place, is to move in with his sister in-law in Airdrie, which will be problematic because of the commute to work and school.

“This was pretty random — I didn’t expect that,” he said. “I’ll make some calls. I’ll talk to some people.”

–With files from Jim Wells

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

Everything you need to know about Monday's solar eclipse

Million-dollar lottery ticket unclaimed in alberta.

Varcoe: Alberta's business leaders want Trudeau to scrap oilpatch emissions cap — they got his answer Friday

Alberta truckers entering b.c. now subject to speed-limiting regulations, calgarians sour on mayor jyoti gondek, poll suggests.

This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here . By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy .

You've reached the 20 article limit.

You can manage saved articles in your account.

and save up to 100 articles!

Looks like you've reached your saved article limit!

You can manage your saved articles in your account and clicking the X located at the bottom right of the article.

• Submit News Tips
• Newsletters
• News Insiders

RCMP bust $100k drug ring in Calgary

By Alejandro Melgar

Posted Dec 28, 2023 1:33 pm.

A cocaine trafficking operation in Calgary has been discovered and broken up in early December, with Mounties making a pair of arrests.

The RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime (FSOC) unit searched a home, an apartment being used as a storage facility, and two vehicles in Calgary on Dec. 6,

They found 1.2 kilograms of cocaine worth $100,000, a loaded 9mm handgun, a Toyota RAV 4, a Land Rover Range Rover, and around $180,000 in cash.

The pair arrested are 31-year-old Uduakobong “Joseph” Ewitat, and 28-year-old Farahah Rizwan, both from Calgary.

Mounties say they face multiple charges, including possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, property obtained by crime, unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon, and possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized.

The suspects are expected to appear in court on Jan. 12, 2024.

RCMP thanked Calgary police for their help in the investigation.

Top Stories

A man was allegedly attacked by three teens at Market Mall in the city's northwest Saturday afternoon, Calgary police say.

Israel's military announced Sunday it was drawing back some forces from a Hamas stronghold in southern Gaza following a major phase of its offensive, bringing troop presence in the territory to one of...

A Green Shirt Day parade inspired by the legacy of Humboldt Broncos defenceman Logan Boulet is set for Sunday in Calgary.

An alleged assault in Calgary's Chinook Park has led to the arrest of four individuals Saturday, police say.

Most Watched Today

Excitement is growing for Monday's solar eclipse that will be seen partially in western Canada. Silvia Naranjo reports.

Starting April 5th, Calgary’s longest bridge structure, the 4th Avenue Flyover is undergoing maintenance for almost 18 months. Henna Saeed finds out the impact on downtown traffic and some alternate routes.

After petitioning to remove Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek, Landon Johnston already has another target in his sights. Silvia Naranjo reports.

Calgary police say the remains of the 29-year-old were located by officers on late Thursday afternoon, northeast of Carseland, Alta., near Range Road 254 and Highway 901.

Calgary's Arts Commons reveals its expansion transformation design, considered to be the largest art-focused infrastructure project in Canada.

An Ozempic baby boom? Some GLP-1 users report unexpected pregnancies.

Across social media, women who have used Ozempic or similar medications for diabetes or weight loss are reporting an unexpected side effect — surprise pregnancies.

The Facebook group “I got pregnant on Ozempic,” has more than 500 members. Numerous posts on Reddit and TikTok discuss unplanned pregnancies while on Ozempic and similar drugs which can spur significant weight loss by curbing appetite and slowing the digestive process. The drugs are known as “Glucagon-like peptide 1” or GLP-1 drugs.

The reports of an Ozempic baby boom are anecdotal, and it’s not known how widespread the phenomenon is. Experts say significant weight loss can affect fertility. Others speculate that the GLP-1 drugs could interfere with the absorption of oral contraceptives, causing birth control failures.

“I got pregnant on a GLP-1,” posted Deb Oliviara, 32, on her @Dkalsolive TikTok account, which has 36,000 followers. She had noted in another video that she’d previously suffered two miscarriages and a stillbirth.

Oliviara, who lives in Michigan, said in a direct message that she had been using Ozempic for three months before getting pregnant. “I was three weeks along when I found out,” Oliviara said. “I am now 3 months pregnant, and baby is doing amazing.”

“My little Mounjaro baby is almost 6 months old after trying for over 10 years with PCOS!” another woman commented on the post, referring to polycystic ovary syndrome , a hormonal health condition that is a leading cause of infertility.

Paige Burnham, 29, who lives in Louisville, had lost about 80 pounds while using Ozempic, also known as semaglutide, for Type 2 diabetes when she began feeling nauseous on a trip to Disney World. She assumed the symptom was due to the drug. “My most typical Ozempic side effect was nausea,” she said.

But she learned the symptom was actually morning sickness due to pregnancy — a surprise since she and her partner had tried for four years to conceive. She stopped taking Ozempic and gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Creed, in March 2023.

A lack of research on pregnancy and GLP-1 drugs

Little is known about the effects of Ozempic and similar drugs on women who want to get pregnant or who become pregnant while taking the drugs because they were specifically excluded from early clinical trials of the drug.

A spokesman for Novo Nordisk, which makes Ozempic and Wegovy, said the company is collecting data to evaluate the safety of becoming pregnant while using Wegovy, the version of semaglutide approved for weight loss.

“Pregnancy or intention to become pregnant were exclusion criteria in our trials with semaglutide in both obesity and type 2 diabetes,” the company said in a statement.

Get Well+Being tips straight to your inbox

Eli Lilly, maker of the GLP-1 drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound, did not respond to requests for comment.

The biggest concern among women who become pregnant using a GLP-1 is whether the drug poses a risk to the fetus. While women like Burnham and Oliviara have posted reassuring stories of delivering healthy babies, doctors say it’s important to use backup birth control and stop the drug immediately if you become pregnant.

A Novo Nordisk spokesman said in a statement that there isn’t enough available data to know if the drug poses a risk for birth defects, miscarriage or other adverse events related to pregnancy. Based on animal reproduction studies for Wegovy, the company said there “may be potential risks to the fetus from exposure to semaglutide during pregnancy.”

The company recommends stopping Wegovy at least two months before a planned pregnancy.

According to Ozempic’s prescribing information , pregnant rats administered Ozempic showed fetal structural abnormalities, fetal growth problems and embryonic mortality. In rabbits and cynomolgus monkeys, there were early pregnancy losses or structural abnormalities as well as marked maternal body weight loss.

Controlling diabetes is important for a healthy pregnancy, and experts say patients taking Ozempic for diabetes should discuss the risks and benefits with their doctor.

Why drugs like Ozempic might affect pregnancy risk

While it’s unclear whether women taking a GLP-1 have a higher risk of unplanned pregnancies, doctors say there are a few explanations why some women are getting pregnant while using the drugs.

Weight loss can have an effect on ovulation and fertility, said Lora Shahine , a reproductive endocrinologist with a fertility practice in Seattle and Bellevue, Wash.

“I think that with weight loss and balancing of hormones and improved insulin resistance, the hormonal access clicks back in, and all of a sudden they start ovulating again — they might not have been ovulating for years,” said Shahine, who is also an associate clinical professor at the University of Washington.

Stephanie Fein , an internist in Los Angeles who specializes in helping women lose weight for their fertility, said that losing just 5 to 10 percent of body weight can help someone conceive. “No one knows exactly the reason,” she said. “Fat is hormonally active. We know it has effects on estrogen, and it will impact ovulation and possibly egg development.”

The drugs also may interfere with oral contraceptives in some patients, doctors say. The GLP-1 drugs help people lose weight by slowing gastric emptying, curbing hunger and leaving people feel full sooner. It may be that the GLP-1 drugs also affect the absorption of oral contraceptives, said William Dietz, physician and chair of the STOP Obesity Alliance at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University. “This may mean that birth control medications are metabolized or ineffective,” he said.

Dietz said most experts recommend discontinuing GLP-1 medications when pregnancy is detected. “I don’t think we know the impact of these drugs on fetal development,” he added.

Shahine recommends that women using oral contraceptives who are taking a GLP-1 drug use a second form of birth control. The drugs also aren’t recommended for mothers who are breastfeeding. Animal studies have shown semaglutide is present in the milk of lactating rats treated with the drug.

After Burnham stopped breastfeeding, she resumed taking Ozempic. Because of her past struggles with infertility, she doesn’t want to take birth control, although she said she is concerned about getting pregnant too soon. “I’m not ready yet,” she said.

Amy Klein is the author of “The Trying Game: Get Through Fertility Treatment and Get Pregnant without Losing Your Mind.”

Read more from Well+Being

Well+Being shares news and advice for living well every day. Sign up for our newsletter to get tips directly in your inbox.

Are you taking your meds wrong ? Many patients make these common mistakes.

Centenarians give their advice about everything.

The wall sit is a simple exercise that can lower your blood pressure.

Tart cherries — more specifically, tart cherry juice — may help with inflammation and pain.

Do you self-sabotage ? Here’s how to stop.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Oregon Is Recriminalizing Drugs. Here’s What Portland Learned.

Oregon’s governor has signed a measure to reimpose criminal penalties for hard drugs. Mayor Ted Wheeler of Portland talks about why the experiment “failed.”

By Mike Baker

Reporting from Portland, Ore.

When Oregon embarked on a landmark plan three years ago to decriminalize hard drugs , it wagered that a focus on treatment over punishment would create a new model for drug policy around the country.

But after a deluge of overdose deaths and frequent chaos in the streets of Portland, Gov. Tina Kotek signed into law on Monday a measure to restore criminal penalties for drug possession . It brought to an end a key portion of one of the nation’s most ambitious attempts to find alternatives other than jail for drug users, embodied in a 2020 voter initiative known as Measure 110 .

The rollback has supporters among a wide range of public officials, including Mayor Ted Wheeler of Portland, who found himself presiding over a series of crises since taking office in 2016. They included surging unsheltered homelessness, turbulent street protests, an exodus of downtown businesses, record numbers of homicides , the rapid spread of fentanyl and soaring overdose deaths .

Over the past year, Mr. Wheeler has set out to restore order. He has battled in court to ban daytime camping and tried to establish mass shelter locations (known in Portland as TASS sites) for those without housing. After initially supporting budget cuts to the police department , he has pushed to increase the law enforcement presence in the city and to crack down on crime.

And he concluded that it was time to restore criminal penalties for hard drug possession. Under the new law, people caught with small amounts of drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine could face up to 180 days in jail, although lawmakers also built in a series of offramps that allow people in many cases to get treatment instead of confinement.

Mr. Wheeler sat down with The New York Times recently to discuss the shift on drug policy and his city’s future. Here are excerpts from the interview, edited and condensed for length and clarity.

There’s concern that bringing back criminal penalties is going back to the war on drugs. Is that what’s happening?

The war on drugs didn’t work. And so I hope the answer to that question is ‘no.’ And I hope this isn’t an excuse for people to turn their backs on the hard work of building a mental health system. We’re doing that, and we’re doing it at the very local level. At our TASS sites, we actually went out and we contracted at the municipal level with service providers who can provide basic behavioral health, substance-use disorder, domestic-violence treatment, job training. We’re creating those pathways.

So we appreciate that the legislature took the steps to return law enforcement and public safety tools to our first responders. I think that was necessary. But it’s also necessary to do the hard work to build the behavioral health infrastructure that was lacking.

When you look back to 2020, when Measure 110 passed, you have pretty wide support in Oregon. In Portland, three-quarters of voters in this area approved it. I’m curious how excited you were at the time about this new path that was emerging.

I was cautiously optimistic. I’ve been around enough to know that it’s always in the implementation.

Where do you think things most went wrong with the measure?

There’s no question that the state botched the implementation. And as I say, the timing couldn’t have been worse. In terms of the botched implementation: To decriminalize the use of drugs before you actually had the treatment services in place was obviously a huge mistake.

With the benefit of hindsight, the way that should have been structured is that it would create the mechanism for funding. The state would build up its behavioral health services, and when it reached a certain threshold, then they would decriminalize. It shouldn’t have gone the other way around.

The truth is that addiction rates and overdose rates skyrocketed. I personally do not attribute all of that to the passage of Measure 110. I think you can see national trends that would suggest that it wasn’t all ballot Measure 110, but it was very easy for the public to draw a line between the passage of Measure 110, the decriminalization of hard drugs, the increase in addiction and the increase in overdoses — and criminal activity associated with drugs.

Jordan Gale for The New York Times

You’ve said that you’ve been concerned about the future viability of this city . What does a worst-case scenario look like to you?

A worst-case scenario is a city where you don’t have laws that can be enforced. You don’t have alternative treatment for those who are ready to be treated. And you lose the public’s trust in your local institutions of democracy. That’s when things start to unwind. We’re not there. And I will tell you, from where I was sitting four years ago today, night and day difference. I’m very optimistic about the future of this city.

I hear your optimism.

I can see it. I mean, the city looks much better. Foot traffic is way up. Criminal activity is way down. With the opening of our TASS sites, with the expansion of our services at our safe-rest villages, we have a thousand new shelter beds we didn’t have even a year ago. Things have improved.

At the same time, in relatively recent polling, I think 81 percent said they feel unsafe going downtown in Portland at night . Are they wrong to feel that way?

I would never tell anybody they’re wrong to feel unsafe. If you feel unsafe, you feel unsafe. And that is your prerogative. What I would say is, objectively, crime rates are way down .

I was looking back when you first ran for office in 2015. One of your big messages was trying to deal with this nexus of homelessness and mental health issues and addiction. You had vowed at the time to eliminate unsheltered homelessness by 2018 . What went wrong?

Well, first of all, I’m not a great predictor of the future, it turns out. I don’t think anybody in 2015 could have possibly imagined where we would be today, as a city, as a state, as a nation. In 2015, P2P meth didn’t exist. Fentanyl didn’t exist. We hadn’t seen the explosion in the homeless population that we saw, particularly during the pandemic, but also leading up to the pandemic. What happened there, I think, honestly, is the long-term decisions we had made as a state to not invest in behavioral health, to not invest in treatment services, came home to roost as all of these crises hit simultaneously during Covid.

Do you look at yourself and say, “I have blame in this?”

I think we all have blame in this. Of course. We have somewhat reaped what we have sown. And I don’t just mean here in Portland, Oregon. I mean as a nation. Our nation has been very slow to accept behavioral health as an important issue. It’s starting to happen. It’s happening with particularly a younger generation being more willing to talk about it openly.

Along with this rollback of Measure 110, across the country there’s been a shift toward more conservative policies on policing and crime and drug policy. What do you think is motivating that shift?

People are exhausted from feeling like they’re under siege. They want order restored to their environment. And that makes perfect sense to me. These are very dislocating times. These are uncertain times for people economically, socially, in terms of the environment. There are so many existential threats. I mean, even despotism is seeming to grow worldwide. These are very uncertain times.

And you see it particularly amongst young people. I feel it. I think other people feel it, too. And so they have a minimum expectation that where they live is an orderly, safe, secure, prosperous place to be. And if they don’t see it, that is unsettling. They need to have that.

For other states or cities that are thinking about drug decriminalization — it might not be this year, maybe it’s down the line — what would be your guidance?

The treatment infrastructure has to be in place first.

Do you think there is a future where decriminalization could happen again? Or have we learned some other lesson about hard drugs in society?

I do believe there is a future where decriminalization in favor of treatment could happen, but it can’t happen if you don’t have the treatment, and that seems self-evident. There’s no question that what Oregon did was a bold experiment, and it failed. Let’s just be honest about that. It was botched in terms of the implementation. The timing was wrong, and frankly, the politics were wrong.

Going forward, could this experiment happen again? I don’t think anybody will completely decriminalize the use of drugs. I wouldn’t support it, personally, but the piece about providing enough behavioral health services is critically important. And again, in this country, we haven’t done that.

Mike Baker is a national reporter for The Times, based in Seattle. More about Mike Baker

The Federal Register

The daily journal of the united states government, request access.

Due to aggressive automated scraping of FederalRegister.gov and eCFR.gov, programmatic access to these sites is limited to access to our extensive developer APIs.

If you are human user receiving this message, we can add your IP address to a set of IPs that can access FederalRegister.gov & eCFR.gov; complete the CAPTCHA (bot test) below and click "Request Access". This process will be necessary for each IP address you wish to access the site from, requests are valid for approximately one quarter (three months) after which the process may need to be repeated.

An official website of the United States government.

If you want to request a wider IP range, first request access for your current IP, and then use the "Site Feedback" button found in the lower left-hand side to make the request.

• CBSSports.com
• Fanatics Sportsbook
• CBS Sports Home
• NCAA Tournament
• W. Tournament
• Champions League
• Motor Sports
• High School
• Horse Racing 

Men's Brackets

Women's Brackets

Fantasy Baseball

Fantasy football, football pick'em, college pick'em, fantasy basketball, fantasy hockey, franchise games, 24/7 sports news network.

• CBS Sports Golazo Network
• March Madness Live
• Masters Live
• PGA Tour on CBS
• UEFA Champions League
• UEFA Europa League
• Italian Serie A
• Watch CBS Sports Network
• TV Shows & Listings

The Early Edge

A Daily SportsLine Betting Podcast

With the First Pick

NFL Draft is coming up!

• Podcasts Home
• Eye On College Basketball
• The First Cut Golf
• NFL Pick Six
• Cover 3 College Football
• Fantasy Football Today
• My Teams Organize / See All Teams Help Account Settings Log Out

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones accused of assaulting drug-testing agent, police report says

Jones, 36, disputes the allegations and facts of the report.

Jon Jones could be facing legal trouble once again. Police are investigating an incident in which Jones, the current UFC heavyweight champion, is alleged to have assaulted and threatened to kill a drug-testing agent from Drug Free Sport on March 30.

According to a police report filed on April 5, the agent arrived at Jones' home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to collect a sample for the company, which serves as the UFC's anti-doping program partner. The agent and her partner attempted to collect a urine sample, which Jones initially said he could not provide after attempting to do so. After offering to blood test Jones instead, Jones became agitated and grabbed the agent's cell phone and began recording her.

A summons will be issued to Jones on accusations of assault and interference with communications per the incident report. Below is an excerpt of the report, provided by Officer Gilbert Gallego of the Albuquerque Police Department: pic.twitter.com/2ArVaOhU3E — Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) April 6, 2024

The agent claimed Jones appeared intoxicated and said that people who come to his house "end up dead."

The agents eventually completed the collection process with the agent stating to police that she was asked to speak with the UFC before filing a police report, eventually deciding to go ahead with the process.

While online court records show no current charges pending against Jones, the police report states a summons was issued on April 5 and that Jones was charged with assault and interference with communications, as a result of taking the agent's phone.

Jones took to social media to defend himself shortly after the news broke.

"I want to address reports about me allegedly threatening a drug tester's life and taking a phone, I want to clarify that there is a video showing both drug testers leaving my home after the testing session, where we exchanged a high five and a hug," Jones wrote . "Although I was frustrated with the unprofessionalism and used profanity out of frustration, it ended friendly and amicably, nothing threatening at all. I was actually celebrating a friend's birthday party at my home, and believe it's perfectly normal to celebrate in the comfort of my own home.

"I must say, this particular tester behaved quite unprofessionally and even breached standard protocol along with HIPAA laws. Throughout my 20 years of being subjected to drug tests, I have never encountered such an incident with a DCO officer before." 

Throughout his career, Jones has proven to be his own toughest opponent. Despite only a single professional loss, which came by controversial disqualification in 2009, Jones lost the light heavyweight championship on multiple occasions due to out-of-the-cage missteps.

Here's a brief look at Jones' controversies outside the cage.

• May 2012  -- Jones was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after crashing his car into a pole. He later pleaded guilty and his license was suspended for six months.
• January 2015 -- Jones failed a drug test ahead of UFC 182 after testing positive for cocaine. Jones was allowed to go ahead with his fight and spent one night in a rehabilitation facility.
• April 2015  -- Jones was involved in a hit and run, fleeing the scene of the accident. The UFC stripped Jones of his light heavyweight championship and he eventually pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to supervised probation.
• July 2016  -- Jones failed a drug test for two banned substances. As a result, he was pulled from the UFC 200 card. USADA later found that Jones' results were the result of a contaminated package of erectile dysfunction drug Cialis and he had not knowingly ingested banned substances, though they did suspend Jones for one year. Jones was stripped of the interim light heavyweight title as a result of the failed test.
• August 2017 -- Jones failed another drug test, this time for an anabolic steroid. This led to Jones' knockout win over Daniel Cormier at UFC 214 being overturned to a no contest. Jones was again stripped of the light heavyweight title as a result. Jones was given a 15-month suspension as a result.
• July 2019 -- Jones was charged with battery for an incident involving a cocktail waitress at a strip club months prior. Jones pleaded no contest and was given a 90-day deferred sentence.
• March 2020 -- Jones was arrested for DWI after a policeman heard a gunshot and found an intoxicated Jones in his vehicle with an open bottle of alcohol and a handgun. Jones accepted a plea agreement to reduce the charges of aggravated DWI, negligent use of a firearm, possession of an open container and driving with no proof of insurance to just the DWI charge. Jones was sentenced to supervised probation.
• September 2021 -- Jones was charged with domestic battery after Jones had allegedly struck his fiancee. After police detained Jones, he headbutted their patrol car and was taken into custody. The domestic battery charges were eventually dropped, though Jones pleaded no contest to the charge of tampering with a police vehicle.

Our Latest Mma Stories

UFC Fight Night preview, predictions

Shakiel mahjouri • 3 min read.

UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Curtis 2 picks, fight card

Cbs sports staff • 5 min read.

UFC 300 fight card, info, rumors

Shakiel mahjouri • 2 min read.

Updating UFC schedule for 2024

Shakiel mahjouri • 1 min read.

Fiorot outclasses Blanchfield, calls for title shot

Weidman wins controversial decision

Share video.

Jones accused of assaulting drug-testing agent

UFC 300: Fights, card, things to know

Fiorot bests Blanchfield, calls for title shot

Weidman wins controversial decision due to eye poke

Chimaev vs. Whittaker to headline UFC Saudi Arabia

LOOK: UFC fighter DQ'ed for biting opponent

Namajunas scores first win at flyweight

P4P Rankings: Masvidal cracks top 10

Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson fight set for UFC 249 in April

McGregor set to return at UFC 246 in January vs. 'Cowboy'

• Health, Wellness, & Safety

Reporting Crime: Knowing Who to Call

When to Dial 9-1-1

• Any situation involving injury and/or bodily harm (i.e. serious vehicle collision, assault)
• A crime in progress (i.e. robbery, break and enter, theft)
• Crimes that have already happened and there is no risk of injury or bodily harm
• Crimes that do not require immediate police response
• Suspicious vehicles and/or people not currently engaged in criminal activity
• All other non-emergency calls requiring police attendance

Submit a Tip to Crime Stoppers

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Understanding eating disorders, burns and scalds, preventing cumulative stress.

Advertisement

Jon jones issues statement, shares surveillance video after allegations of threatening drug test sample collectors, share this article.

Jon Jones admits foul language was used, but says there was nothing threatening about interactions during a recent Drug Free Sport International (DFSI) sample collection.

An Albuquerque (N.M.) Police Department (APD) incident report revealed Saturday a sample collector told police Jones threatened her and took her phone.

APD later filed a summons for assault and “interference with communication.” Jones, 36, is not listed as having been arrested as of the time of publication, according to online records.

Hours after the news broke, Jones issued a statement on Instagram .

The statement was accompanied by a home surveillance camera video that appeared to show Jones and two sample collectors exiting his residence and exchanging a high-five.

“I want to address reports about me allegedly threatening a drug tester’s life and taking a phone,” Jones wrote. “I want to clarify that there is a video showing both drug testers leaving my home after the testing session, where we exchanged a high five and a hug. Although I was frustrated with the unprofessionalism and used profanity out of frustration it ended friendly and amicably, nothing threatening at all. I was actually celebrating a friend’s birthday party at my home, and I believe it’s perfectly normal to celebrate in the comfort of my own home.

“I must say, this particular tester behaved quite unprofessionally and even breached standard protocol along with HIPAA laws. Throughout my 20 years of being subjected to drug tests, I have never encountered such an incident with a DCO officer before.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bony (@jonnybones)

The alleged incident took place March 30 in the garage of Jones’ residence in Albuquerque. The worker who spoke to police accused Jones of being intoxicated, making a veiled threat, and taking her phone. The worker said she was terrified and only got her phone back once Jones put it down to again attempt to provide the sample.

The worker added that her DFSI counterpart didn’t want to speak with police out of fear of repercussions. Additionally, she said her supervisor at DFSI attempted to persuade her out of reporting the incident to police until speaking with UFC representatives. Instead, the worker told police Friday she wanted to pursue charges.

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

Want the latest news and insights in MMA?

Sign up for our newsletter to get updates to your inbox, and also receive offers from us, our affiliates and partners. By signing up you agree to our Privacy Policy

An error has occured

Please re-enter your email address.

Thanks for signing up!

You'll now receive the top MMA Junkie stories each day directly in your inbox.

Upcoming Events

Apr 12 2024 PFL 2 -

Apr 13 UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill

Apr 19 2024 PFL 3 -

Apr 27 UFC Fight Night 241: Nicolau vs. Perez

May 4 UFC 301: Pantoja vs. Erceg

Most Popular

'fight of the year': social media reacts to brendan allen's thrilling win over chris curtis in ufc fight night 240 rematch, ufc fight night 240 play-by-play and live results, ufc fight night 240: best photos from las vegas, dana white's five most important ufc events in history, ufc fight night 240 bonuses: prelim finisher among $50,000 winners in las vegas, ufc fight night 240 predictions: who's picking chris curtis to upset brendan allen.

Please enter an email address.

Thanks for signing up.

Please check your email for a confirmation.

Something went wrong.

The Rock Will NOT Endorse Joe Biden Again, Unhappy W/ State Of America

Josie Canseco Handsy With Johnny Manziel Amid Dating Rumors

Travis Scott, University of Texas Get Backlash for Astroworld Insensitivity

Bronny James Declares For NBA Draft

Diddy's Daughters Hang Out with LeBron James' Son Amid Investigation

Ufc superstar jon jones denies threatening drug tester, she's in the wrong, ufc's jon jones i didn't threaten drug tester.

• Exclusive Details

UFC champion Jon Jones is adamantly denying any wrongdoing after a drug tester showed up at his place unannounced ... saying the whole interaction was as cordial as could be.

Jones -- a 36-year-old fighter -- claims he was at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico last weekend ... when out of nowhere, a UFC-certified official showed up to test his blood while he was celebrating a birthday.

In a police report filed by the alleged tester, Jones is accused of grabbing the official's phone and threatening to kill her ... but he says there's video to prove there was no bad blood.

Here's Jones' statement in its entirety.

"I want to address reports about me allegedly threatening a drug tester's life and taking a phone," Jones told TMZ Sports . "I want to clarify that there is a video showing both drug testers leaving my home after the testing session, where we exchanged a high five and a hug. Although I was frustrated with the unprofessionalism and used profanity out of frustration it ended friendly and amicably, nothing threatening at all."

"I was actually celebrating a friend's birthday party at my home, and I believe it's perfectly normal to celebrate in the comfort of my own home."

He continued ... "I must say, this particular tester behaved quite unprofessionally and even breached standard protocol along with HIPAA laws. Throughout my 20 years of being subjected to drug tests, I have never encountered such an incident with a DCO officer before."

It goes without saying, Jones is widely considered the greatest to ever step foot in the Octagon ... and while he's had his fair share of run-ins with the law in the past, he seems adamant he did nothing criminal here.

• Share on Facebook

Old news is old news! Be First!