ALERT seizes 157 kg of cocaine in cross-border drug bust

Alberta's ALERT enforcement team says it's made one of the biggest drug busts in provincial history—a cross-border case they call Project Cerberus.

The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) says an operation called Project Cerberus has resulted in the seizure of $15 million worth of cocaine, one of the province’s largest-ever drug seizures.

The organization has been working for the past two years to dismantle an extensive cross-border drug trafficking network.

Officials say these criminals were transporting cocaine across the Canada-U.S. border and had ties to Mexican drug cartels.

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The conclusion of the operation this month resulted in the arrest of five people and the seizure of 157 kilograms of cocaine - ALERT’s largest seizure.

The bust was also one of the largest in provincial history.

“The cocaine, if sold on the street level, would have an estimated value of over $15 million. The cocaine tested at between 96 to 98 per cent purity,” ALERT said in a news release.

In addition, police also seized 15 firearms, nearly $1 million in cash and a fleet of seven vehicles all equipped with hidden compartments designed for use in the drug trade.

Where the drugs were found

ALERT says it worked with partners in law enforcement agencies across Canada and the U.S., along with officials with the Canada Border Services Agency and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

In total, nearly 450 investigators and civilian staff were involved in Project Cerberus.

Authorities say the drugs mainly came from two seizures, the first in March 2024 and the other in October 2024.

ALERT says the drugs were imported into Canada from the U.S. and hidden in vehicles using compartments accessible only through a specific key sequence.

The first seizure of 61 kilograms of cocaine was by the Manitoba roving traffic unit near Richer, Man.

The second cache - 96 kilograms - was found inside a home in Houston that was identified by ALERT as a possible “stash location.”

Five Alberta suspects arrested

ALERT says five Albertans, including two Calgary residents, said to be high-ranking members of an organized crime group, face 31 criminal charges:

• Reza Muhammad, 26, of Calgary;
• Jordan Plamondon, 40, of Spruce Grove;
• Ji Hwan Kim, 34, of Calgary;
• Allan Leung, 33, of Edmonton; and
• James Morrissette, 33, of Edmonton.

A sixth Albertan, 35-year-old Jack Kasjaniuk of Edmonton, was also arrested and pleaded guilty to possession of drugs with the intent to distribute.

Kasjaniuk was given a 135-month federal sentence by a Texas court.

ALERT said 15 search warrants were executed across Canada, with homes in Calgary, Edmonton, Spruce Grove and Toronto being searched.