Two men are facing more than 100 charges in connection to a drug-trafficking investigation that led to the seizure of nearly $1 million in drugs and numerous firearms in Edmonton.
Police began investigating Adam Salah Johma, 53, in July after he was identified in a previous drug-trafficking investigation.
Investigators determined two men were using a vacant home in Glenora to store “controlled substances and firearms.”
On Nov. 2, police executed two search warrants – one in Glenora and one at a home in Cameron Heights – and seized:
- Â 8.5 kg of cocaine (approximate street value $585,000)
- Â Over 11,000 Xanax pills (approximate street value $234,000)
- Â More than 250 oyxcodone pills (approximate street value $7,100)
- Â Psilocybin (approximate street value $1,800)
- Â Cannabis gummies (approximate street value $5,000)
- Â 24 kg cocaine buffing agent (approximate street value $96,000)
- Â Approximately $3,100 in cash
- Â Eight handguns
- Â Several high-capacity magazines with over 1,400 rounds of ammunition
Two of the firearms were stolen and two had been smuggled into Canada, including one investigators have linked to a shooting in west Edmonton in 2021, Edmonton Police Service said.
One firearm had a 3D printed frame and was converted to function as fully automatic.
Police have determined that neither suspect had a valid Possession and Acquisition License (PAL).
On Feb. 2, a 34-year-old man was arrested in the case, followed by the arrest of Johma on Feb. 7.
Both men have been charged with a combined total of 102 charges, including possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and numerous firearms-related charges.
The 34-year-old man was also charged with breaching previous firearms prohibitions and a release order.
SECOND INVESTIGATION
On Feb. 2, Edmonton police assisted Mounties in North Battleford, Sask., by executing a search warrant on another Glenora home.
Investigators discovered a two-year-old child was living at the home while trafficking was taking place, police said.
The child has since been placed in the care of other family members.
The 34-year-old man who was charged in connection with the first case, and Robert Trach, 59, of North Battleford, Sask. have been jointly charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of cannabis for the purpose of unlawfully distributing it and possessing contraband tobacco for the purpose of sale in the second investigation.
The 34-year-old man, who has not been named to protect the identity of the child, is also facing 27 additional charges including obstructing a peace officer, arson and child endangerment.
Edmonton police say he set fire to several crates of illegal cigarettes in the garage of the home before turning himself over to police.
‘PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS’
At a news conference on Thursday, Acting Insp. David Paton said the seizures at the homes in Glenora speaks to the high level of trafficking taking place.
“It’s a sign of the level of the organization in which we were investigating. That they would have access to residences such as those.”
He says weapons seizures during drug investigations are becoming more common in Edmonton, but the modified firearm with the 3D printed frame in this case is extra concerning to police.
“It makes it difficult to trace the origin of those firearms. This particular gun is also problematic in the fact that it’s been put into a position where it can operate as a fully automatic,” he said. “It’s our belief that that was done aftermarket in order to perhaps make the value of that weapon on the street, the purchase value of that weapon on the street, higher.”
Investigators were also concerned to find a child at the centre of the second investigation.
“It’s particularly dangerous for, I guess, two reasons. Just their proximity to the drugs themselves, obviously these substances are very harmful, but also, a large number of those home invasions that occur in the city where shots are fired, people are injured, they’re targeting drug houses. So it’s definitely an awful circumstance to have children residing in.”
Anyone with information about drug activity in their neighbourhood is asked to call Edmonton police at 780-423-4567, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
