Warrants issued for arrest of 5 suspects in Taber drug trafficking network

Police agencies from across the Lethbridge region teamed on a two-year investigation, and it turned into a massive drug bust and a series of arrests.

Police have released the names of five people wanted in connection with an extensive drug trafficking network in Taber, Alta., that was allegedly also involved in money laundering.

The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) released information about Project Leadline on Thursday.

The two-year investigation culminated with officers searching three homes in Taber on April 29.

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ALERT says more than half a million dollars in drugs and cash were seized during the course of the investigation, including:

• Two firearms;
• 5,088 grams of cocaine;
• 1,132 grams of a suspected cocaine buffing agent;
• 22 grams of fentanyl;
• 253 grams of methamphetamine;
• 500 methamphetamine pills;
• 1,000 millilitres of GHB; and
• $91,941 in cash.

ALERT says eight bank accounts and seven homes in Lethbridge and Coalhurst, Alta., have been restrained as part of the investigation, adding that the estimated value of the restrained assets is more than $2.5 million.

Police say the nine people charged include the “criminal organization’s alleged leadership.”

Together, they face 63 charges related to drug trafficking, criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

Four suspects have been arrested, and warrants have been issued for the remaining five suspects:

• Johan Braun-Suderman, 38, from Taber;
• Kade Phillips, 36, from Taber;
• Gerhard Wolf, 38, from Taber;
• Malachy Young, 23, from Taber; and
• A 19-year-old, who has been charged as a young offender, and thus cannon be identified under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact police.