Airdrie RCMP were among several police units involved in a two-month investigation that led to two arrests at Sunridge Mall in Calgary. Police seized fentanyl, a prohibited firearm, and more than 60 fraudulent identity documents. The arrest occurred on May 1.
RCMP said Duane Phillips, 50, of Calgary, was arrested alongside a 38-year-old Calgary woman. Police said information has not yet been sworn for the woman, and her name cannot be released.
The investigation was led by the Alberta RCMP Community Response Team and the Cochrane Crime Reduction Unit. Operational support was provided by the RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region, the Sheriff Investigative Support Unit Surveillance Team, the Calgary Police Tactical Unit, the Calgary Police Service, Airdrie RCMP, and Cochrane RCMP.
Three search warrants were executed following the arrest, including:
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A 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
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One residence in Livingston, Calgary
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One apartment in Livingston, Calgary
Police said the following items were seized:
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271 grams of fentanyl
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20 grams of methamphetamine
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22 oxycodone pills
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One prohibited firearm
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Ammunition
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Cell phones
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Scales
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Scoresheets
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A money counter
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$6,852 in counterfeit Canadian currency
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60 fraudulent documents
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Computers, printers, a card scanner and an embosser
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A 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
Phillips and the 38-year-old woman are jointly charged with:
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Possession for the purpose of trafficking fentanyl
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Possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine
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Possession for the purpose of trafficking oxycodone
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Possession of proceeds of crime
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Possession of property obtained by crime
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Possession of identity documents
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Unlawfully make counterfeit money
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Possession of counterfeit money
Phillips also faces additional charges:
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Trafficking fentanyl
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Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
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Possession of a firearm while being prohibited
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Possession of a prohibited weapon while being prohibited
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Possession of ammunition while being prohibited
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Possession of a firearm without a licence
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Possession of a firearm knowing he was not the holder of a licence
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Possession of a prohibited weapon
The 38-year-old woman is also charged with five counts of failing to comply with a release order.
RCMP said Phillips was remanded into custody and appeared in the Alberta Court of Justice in Cochrane on May 6.
The woman was released and is scheduled to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in Stony Plain on June 24.
RCMP said the arrests were part of its "Data 2 Action (D2A)" strategy.
In the release, RCMP said the program "turns data and intelligence into actionable tasks focused on the four pillars of policing: targeted prevention, apprehension, suppression, and offender management."
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