StoneColdNTO
Administrator
ctvedmonton.ca
A month long investigation has resulted in the arrests of five people who are now facing charges of trafficking and possessing steroids.
"Under Canadian law it's not illegal for a person to posses or use steroids for personal purposes. However, it is illegal under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to traffic in or posses these types of drugs for the purpose of trafficking," said Inspector Greg Preston with the Edmonton Police Service.
The investigation began on August 24th after officers conducted a traffic stop. A 2009 Mercedes was searched and officers discovered a variety of anabolic steroids and prescription drugs worth approximately $40,000, as well as three cellphones, $3,800 cash, and an extendable baton. The $70,000 vehicle was also seized.
That then led to a series of search warrants over a time period of a week.
On Aug. 25, a search of a residence at 141 Avenue and 136 Street and a nearby vehicle resulted in the seizure of bags containing shredded documents and labels, and $11,000 in cash. That same day officers searched an apartment on 129 Avenue and 64 Street and found a variety of illicit drugs in both liquid and pill form, worth an estimated value of $200,000.
A day later, officers were at work again searching a home on 140 Street and 158A Avenue where they discovered what appeared to be a lab where the drugs were being mixed and packaged. A P.O. Box in Sherwood Park was also searched where $3,000 in cash was found.
On Aug. 27th, officers searched a safety deposit box at a bank in north Edmonton where they located $142,000 in cash. Later that day, a home on 145 Avenue and 19 Street was search and officers seized a Lexus and two Firebirds estimated to be valued at $130,000 and a utility trailer worth about $30,000.
The last search happened on Aug. 30th at a north Edmonton bank where police found $80,000 in cash placed in a safety deposit box.
Police say while they can't control users of steroids, they warn in this case, there was no quality control, which makes for a dangerous situation to unsuspecting customers.
"That's obviously a huge concern, is the cleanliness, sterilization would be an issue. This is a homegrown lab. I'm quite confident Johnson and Johnson wouldn't have pets and food around their laboratory," said Preston.
In total, officers seized about $240,000 in cash seized as proceeds of crime, roughly $230,000 worth of offence-related property, and approximately $250,000 worth of illicit drugs, most of which were anabolic steroids.
Officers allege a family of four and a fifth man was behind the trafficking.
•Troy Charles Fougere, 26, has been charged with 24 counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, two counts of possession of the proceeds of crime under $5,000, two counts of possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000, and one count of production.
•Trevor Raymond Fougere, 25, has been charged with one count of possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000.
•Susan Ann Fougere, 52, has been charged with two counts of possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000.
•Charles William Fougere, 53, has been charged with three counts of possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000.
•Brock Reginald Chichak, 25, has been charged with one count of production.
With files from Susan Amerongen
A month long investigation has resulted in the arrests of five people who are now facing charges of trafficking and possessing steroids.
"Under Canadian law it's not illegal for a person to posses or use steroids for personal purposes. However, it is illegal under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to traffic in or posses these types of drugs for the purpose of trafficking," said Inspector Greg Preston with the Edmonton Police Service.
The investigation began on August 24th after officers conducted a traffic stop. A 2009 Mercedes was searched and officers discovered a variety of anabolic steroids and prescription drugs worth approximately $40,000, as well as three cellphones, $3,800 cash, and an extendable baton. The $70,000 vehicle was also seized.
That then led to a series of search warrants over a time period of a week.
On Aug. 25, a search of a residence at 141 Avenue and 136 Street and a nearby vehicle resulted in the seizure of bags containing shredded documents and labels, and $11,000 in cash. That same day officers searched an apartment on 129 Avenue and 64 Street and found a variety of illicit drugs in both liquid and pill form, worth an estimated value of $200,000.
A day later, officers were at work again searching a home on 140 Street and 158A Avenue where they discovered what appeared to be a lab where the drugs were being mixed and packaged. A P.O. Box in Sherwood Park was also searched where $3,000 in cash was found.
On Aug. 27th, officers searched a safety deposit box at a bank in north Edmonton where they located $142,000 in cash. Later that day, a home on 145 Avenue and 19 Street was search and officers seized a Lexus and two Firebirds estimated to be valued at $130,000 and a utility trailer worth about $30,000.
The last search happened on Aug. 30th at a north Edmonton bank where police found $80,000 in cash placed in a safety deposit box.
Police say while they can't control users of steroids, they warn in this case, there was no quality control, which makes for a dangerous situation to unsuspecting customers.
"That's obviously a huge concern, is the cleanliness, sterilization would be an issue. This is a homegrown lab. I'm quite confident Johnson and Johnson wouldn't have pets and food around their laboratory," said Preston.
In total, officers seized about $240,000 in cash seized as proceeds of crime, roughly $230,000 worth of offence-related property, and approximately $250,000 worth of illicit drugs, most of which were anabolic steroids.
Officers allege a family of four and a fifth man was behind the trafficking.
•Troy Charles Fougere, 26, has been charged with 24 counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, two counts of possession of the proceeds of crime under $5,000, two counts of possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000, and one count of production.
•Trevor Raymond Fougere, 25, has been charged with one count of possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000.
•Susan Ann Fougere, 52, has been charged with two counts of possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000.
•Charles William Fougere, 53, has been charged with three counts of possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000.
•Brock Reginald Chichak, 25, has been charged with one count of production.
With files from Susan Amerongen
