Stephen Avenue drug bust leads to 5 arrests in Calgary

Calgary police launched a week-long operation that lead to 26 charges

Image | Downtown beat team drug bust Calgary

Caption: Police seized methamphetamine, cocaine and other drugs in the bust. (Calgary Police Service)

Police say a crackdown on drug dealers along Stephen Avenue — which led to five arrests and 26 charges — was launched after community partners alerted them to an increase of activity in the area.
The week-long operation began on April 18 to ensure the popular pedestrian mall in downtown "remained a safe place for the public to enjoy" — a goal of the Calgary police's downtown beat team.

Image | Stephen Avenue Mall Calgary

Caption: The Calgary police downtown beat team took to Stephen Avenue recently in hopes of weeding out drug trafficking along the pedestrian mall. (CBC)

Following the investigation, 44 search warrants were executed, which resulted in the seizure of various drugs and weapons:
  • 28.2 grams of methamphetamine.
  • 1.6 grams of cocaine.
  • Two Tylenol 3s with codeine.
  • Six pills of the Schedule 1 drug Dexedrine.
  • Four concealed knives.
  • One replica handgun.

Image | Stephen Avenue drug bust

Caption: Calgary police say an operation was launched after community partners alerted them to an increase in drug trafficking. (Calgary Police Service)

Five people are now facing charges that include possession of controlled substances, possession for the purpose of trafficking, theft under $5,000, breach of recognizance and failure to comply.
  • Tara Duncan, 23, of no fixed address
  • Tanya Youngman, 47, of no fixed address.
  • Shelley Ward, 43, of no fixed address.
  • Brandon Yellowfly, 20, of Calgary.
  • Zoe Hartman, 21, of Calgary.

Image | Stephen Avenue drug bust

Caption: Four concealed knives and one replica handgun were seized during the operation. (Calgary Police Service)