Two men have been charged after Calgary police seized more than $5.7 million worth of drugs from a “sophisticated” methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine home lab.
The bust follows an eight-month drug trafficking investigation that culminated with the search of two northwest Calgary residences in the community of Nolan Hill.
Daniel Heng, 39, and Edric Padua-Balmes, 30, have been charged with seven charges each including; three counts of production of a controlled substance, three counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, and one count of possession of the proceeds of crime.
In July 2021, officers identified the pair as suspects believed to be engaging in drug trafficking. During the eight-month-long investigation, police accumulated a significant amount of evidence.
With the help of RCMP on April 7, investigators executed search warrants on two properties in Chestermere and one home in the 400 block of Nolan Hill Drive N.W. where police discovered the drug production lab.
During the raid, Calgary police say the following items were seized:
- 4.57 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at approximately $380,000
- 27.21 kilograms of fentanyl powder valued at over $4 million
- 3,132 fentanyl pills valued at approximately $122,640
- 2 kilograms of cocaine valued at approximately $140,000
- 43.7 grams of crack cocaine valued at approximately $43,700
- 47,042 Oxycodone pills valued at approximately $940,840
- 716 Xanax pills, valued at approximately $3,580
- Additional drug trafficking production equipment, including more than 100 kilograms of an unknown cutting agent
- One Glock handgun and silencer with six additional barrels
- A custom-made automatic firearm and silencer
- 900 rounds of ammunition
- $10,000 in Canadian currency
Heng and Padua-Balmes were arrested at the Calgary International Airport.
“It is extremely concerning that a drug production lab of this scale was operating in a residential community,” says Sgt. Todd Nichol of Calgary Police Service.
“Aside from exploiting those who are most vulnerable, drug trafficking attracts unwanted and unnecessary violence to our community. This was a significant seizure for our Service, that should directly impact the safety of Calgarians.”
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