Calgary police charge 2 men after seizing $5.7M in drugs from 'sophisticated' home lab

UPDATE: Daniel Heng and Edric Padua-Balmes' charges were stayed on Aug. 30, 2023.

Calgary police have charged two men after seizing more than $5.7 million in methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine following an eight-month drug trafficking investigation. 

Daniel Heng, 39, and Edric Padua-Balmes, 30, each face seven charges, including drug trafficking, production and possession of the proceeds of crime. 

Both men are from Chestermere and are accused of running what CPS calls a "sophisticated" drug lab in a home in Calgary's northwest, in the community of Nolan Hill.

Last July, the pair were identified as suspected drug traffickers, kicking off the eight-month investigation. 

Warrants executed

On April 7, police executed search warrants on two Chestermere properties and the home in Nolan Hill with the help of RCMP.

In those raids, police seized drugs and weapons, including: 

• 27.21 kilograms of fentanyl powder, worth more than $4 million.
• 47,042 Oxycodone pills, valued at approximately $940,840.
• 4.57 kilograms of methamphetamine, worth nearly $400,000.
• 2 kilograms of cocaine, valued at approximately $140,000.
• 3,132 fentanyl pills, valued at approximately $122,000.
• 43.7 grams of crack cocaine, worth nearly $44,000.
• 716 Xanax pills, valued at approximately $3,500.
• One Glock handgun and silencer, with six additional barrels.
• A custom-made automatic firearm and silencer.
• 900 rounds of ammunition.

"It is extremely concerning that a drug production lab of this scale was operating in a residential community," said Sgt. Todd Nichol in a written statement.