Calgary police have released their most recent crackdown on organized crime following an investigation that resulted in weapon, drug, and fraud charges following the seizure of 18 firearms and $58,500 in illicit substances.
During a media availability on Tuesday morning, Staff Sgt. Matt Gow with the Calgary Police Service’s (CPS) Organized Crime Enforcement Unit announced that eight individuals have been charged related to their involvement in an alleged drug-trafficking and organized crime network.
Police said they first became aware of a man who was a part of the network in September 2025. As of Aug. 11, the initial investigation has led to the discovery of a group of individuals believed to be engaging in prescription fraud, vehicle re-vinning, drug trafficking, and firearms offences.
The first of the four separate investigations happened in December 2025 when search warrants were executed at residences in Delacour and Chestermere, Alta., where police seized nearly $7,700 in cash, forged prescription documents, and a radio-frequency jammer.
This past March saw three additional investigations, both in Calgary and just outside of city limits. The warrants seized a sum of more than $25,040 in cash in addition to various weapons, illicit drugs, and stolen vehicles.
Christopher Hayward, 45, is still wanted on warrants related to firearms, controlled substance possession, and impersonation. The remaining seven people charged by CPS are expected to appear in court in August and September.
Organized crime continues a concerning upward trend, police say
Staff Sgt. Gow said they split the investigation into multiple phases to ensure law enforcement covered all necessary bases before laying charges.
“Complex investigations like this are not about one person or one search warrant. They require investigators to carefully build a complete picture of the network, identify each person’s alleged role and gather the evidence needed to support charges,” he said.
“This investigation took significant time, resources, and coordination across multiple phases, and it reflects the commitment of our investigators to disrupt organized crime and the harm it brings into our community.”
Gow said that organized crime has historically been associated with groups sharing a common social background, but that this identifying factor has shifted as criminal networks diversify their tactics at an increasing rate.
“Organized crime has evolved in a way that is very cellular, and people work together,” he said.
“It is very business-driven, and you can see from the collection of names and demographics that this is a diverse group that we have encountered here. The eight are not homogenous to one particular community.”
Gow emphasized that money was the most common motivating factor in each investigation and that this trend is growing throughout Alberta. He said that although not every warrant was executed in Calgary, the organized crime they have seen tends to have ties to the city.
Calgary police said that they will continue to investigate the origins of the illegal substances and products seized in this investigation. Gow said that the name of this specific network will not be released, but that they believe additional members are involved who have not yet been charged.
Anyone with information about suspected drug trafficking or organized crime activity in Calgary has been asked to contact the police non-emergency line at (403) 266-1234 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers.
