(ALERT)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

ALERT

Warrant issued in case of million-dollar drug bust

Jan 11, 2023 | 10:57 AM

Four Edmonton men have been arrested, and ALERT is seeking a Canada-wide warrant for a fifth suspect, in relation to a million-dollar drug bust that took place in Edmonton in 2021.

Officials say ALERT Edmonton’s organized crime and gang team have laid a total of 30 criminal charges against five suspects, with the most recent arrest taking place on Jan. 4, 2023. Meanwhile, ALERT is seeking information on the whereabouts of David Nguyen who officials say is believed to have fled the country.

The five suspects are charged with drug and firearm offences, and for being members of, and committing crime on behalf of, a criminal organization. Officers say these charges are in relation to a November 2021 drugs and firearms seizure that took place in Edmonton, and had connections to Red Deer and Grande Prairie.

A news release was issued on November 18, 2021, and can be found here: https://alert-ab.ca/handguns-and-drugs-seized-in-million-dollar-bust/

The five accused are:

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• Zachary Edwards-Swanson, 22, from Grande Prairie;
• Keegan Johnson-Thomas, 31, from Edmonton;
• David Nguyen, 31, from Edmonton;
• Michael Suksawat, 27, from Surrey; and
• Jason Suriyavong, 30, from Surrey.

Officials with ALERT say one of the charges against Suriyavong is recruitment of members by a criminal organization, which is rarely laid in Canada. Suriyavong allegedly recruited people from B.C.’s lower mainland to traffic drugs in Alberta.

ALERT says organized crime charges are laid when it is established that three or more people are engaged in criminal activity for financial benefit. Participation in a criminal organization is punishable with a penalty of up to 14 years in jail.

ALERT says the drug seizure was valued at over $1,000,000 and included more than 8.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and nearly two kilograms of fentanyl powder.

Anyone with information on this investigation can call local police, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is always anonymous.

ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is described as a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime.