Edmonton Police Dismantle Fentanyl Operation, Seize $450,000 Worth of Drugs

Drugs, drug production materials, and firearm seized by the Edmonton Police Service on Jan. 28, 2025. Edmonton Police Service/Handout Photo

Edmonton authorities have dismantled a fentanyl processing operation and seized more than $400,000 worth of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, following an investigation into suspected drug trafficking from British Columbia to Alberta.

Edmonton police’s Clandestine Laboratory team has dismantled a fentanyl processing operation in a central Edmonton home that was uncovered during a Jan. 28 search warrant of the residence, two hotel rooms, and a vehicle, the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) said in a Feb. 11 news release.

The search warrant stemmed from an investigation launched in November 2024, when the EPS and the Edmonton Gang and Drug Enforcement Unit began probing a group suspected of trafficking drugs from British Columbia’s Lower Mainland to the Edmonton area.

The search resulted in the seizure of more than 18 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $180,000, over 3.5 kilograms of cocaine valued at $229,000, and more than 2 kilograms of fentanyl valued at $24,000.

Police also seized 25 litres of gamma hydroxybutyrate with an estimated street value of more than $12,000, nearly 60 grams of Alprazolam powder valued at $8,500, and a firearm.

Police arrested two men, Brett Ogilvie, 43, and Owen Lloyd, 21, and a woman, Robin Kelley, 47, in connection with the investigation. They now face a combined total of 27 drug trafficking and firearm-related charges, including possession for the purpose of trafficking, production of a controlled substance, and unauthorized possession of a firearm.

The Grande Prairie RCMP supported the investigation, police said.

This comes after the EPS last week laid charges against two Edmonton men, following the seizure of more than $400,000 worth of fentanyl from their shared home, where evidence of drug production was also discovered.

Jameson Doherty, 54, and Timothy York, 42, were arrested last November, and now face more than 40 drug and firearm-related charges, according to police. In addition to fentanyl, police seized from their residence more than 120 grams of methamphetamine valued at around $7,000, and more than 80 grams of cocaine with a street value of approximately $6,000.

Police also found multiple weapons, two stolen license plates, more than $1,000 in cash, and a Canadian passport.

News of the drug seizures come as fentanyl trafficking gains attention amid the threat of U.S. tariffs on Canada. The federal government earlier this week appointed a fentanyl czar, a key condition for the 30-day pause on tariffs granted by the United States on Feb. 3.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on all goods coming from Canada, with a reduced levy of 10 for Canadian oil and gas, citing concerns about the flow of illegal drugs and immigrants across the border. The president has also cited the U.S. trade deficit with Canada as a reason for the tariffs.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith last December launched a border security plan to combat drug smuggling, gun trafficking, and illegal immigration. The premier said the plan had been in the works for some time, and that the province would have implemented it regardless of Trump’s tariff threat.

Following the 30-day tariff reprieve, Smith stepped up efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking, saying in a Feb. 5 statement that she has instructed her government to “significantly increase police and prosecutorial resources to go after the Fentanyl labs, kingpins and dealers that are responsible for killing 49,000 Canadians since 2016.”