NORTH BATTLEFORD – Russell Ens, 40, was handed a three-year prison sentence May 31 for his part in a cross-border organized crime bust.
In September 2022, Ens and Tiajanna Bull, 25, both from North Battleford, were two of 15 people arrested in the investigation that resulted in the seizure of firearms, $7 million in property including bank accounts, a $3.5 million home in Niagara-on-the-Lake, two Lamborghinis, a Porsche, classic cars, $200,000 cash, and $55 million in drugs.
Ens was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime. Bull was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.
As the result of enforcement initiatives on both sides of the border, 928 kilograms of methamphetamine and 6 kilograms of cocaine were intercepted. In addition, approximately $7 million worth of assets were seized or placed under criminal restraint.
Project Cobra relied on the assistance of a number of police agencies and specialized units, including: Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Niagara Regional Police, Canada Revenue Agency, Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), and RCMP units in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Saskatoon, North Battleford, Sask., and Osoyoos, B.C.
The Battlefords RCMP Gang Task Force participated in the investigation along with RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The investigation was led by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team, which is known as ALERT.
Project Cobra began in 2020 and a series of 11 coordinated search warrants were executed in December 2021. Homes, vehicles, businesses, and storage locations were searched in Calgary, Bedford, Nova Scotia, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., and Leduc County, Alta.
Police agencies collaborated to make numerous large-scale drug seizures during the course of Project Cobra. These were shipments destined for Alberta, and included 5 kg of cocaine in North Battleford, 7 kg of meth and 1 kg of cocaine and 137 kg of meth in Calgary, 50 kg of meth at Lake Koocanusa, B.C., 342 kg of meth in Wyoming, and 392 kg of meth of meth in Los Angeles.
Ens still faces drug trafficking charges from his March 2022 arrest. A trial on those charges has been set for June 2024 in North Battleford Provincial Court.
Bull was handed a two-year conditional sentence to be served in the community.
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