Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams
An "extensive drug trafficking network" has been dismantled following an investigation from Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), with large amounts of cocaine beings seized and nine people facing charges.
The two-year investigation, dubbed "Project Leadline," was led by ALERT with assistance from the Taber and Lethbridge police services and the RCMP.
Three homes in Taber were searched on April 29, 2025, and ALERT restrained seven properties in Lethbridge and Coalhurst, along with eight bank accounts.
The restrained assets are valued at $2.5 million.
According to ALERT, nine people have been charged, including the alleged leadership of the criminal organization.
They face a combined 63 charges.
Over $500,000 in drugs and cash were seized, 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 milliliters of GHB; and
- $91,941 cash.
Four suspects have been arrested:
- Duc Vo, 47-year-old from Lethbridge;
- Nga (Linda) Vo, 45-year-old from Lethbridge;
- Chantal Bareman, 40-year-old from Taber;
- Ryden Melhalf, 20-year-old from Taber;
Warrants have been issued for another five suspects:
- Johan Braun-Suderman, 38-year-old from Taber;
- Kade Phillips, 36-year-old from Taber;
- Gerhard Wolf, 38-year-old from Taber;
- Malachy Young, 23-year-old from Taber; and
- A 19-year-old suspect, who has been charged as a young offender.
Alert listed multiple organizations that have assisted in Project Deadline since it was launched in April 2023: Taber Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service, RCMP’s National Weapons Enforcement Support Team, Calgary Police Service, Canada Border Services Agency, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, Forensic Accounting Management Group (FAMG), Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), and Canada’s Seized Property Management Directorate (SPMD).