ALERT’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-Lethbridge) has wrapped up a four-month investigation into a dial-a-dope group operating in the Lethbridge area that netted police 340 grams of cocaine and six arrests.

“These operations are an important part of our goal to disrupt organized crime in this corner of the province,” said CFSEU-Lethbridge Staff Sergeant Wes Houston. “With each trafficker we take off the streets, we put another dent in the group’s business activities.”
Between October, 2012, and January, 2013, officers conducted the investigation which led to charges against four people.
Michael Abate, a 24-year-old Calgary man, has been charged with four counts of trafficking and two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and Ephrem Dagne, a 22-year-old Lethbridge man, has been charged with four counts of trafficking and one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking. Also charged are Kenneth Fergusen, a 22-year-old Calgary man, with three counts of trafficking and Aasish Sanju, a 26-year-old Lethbridge man, with three counts of trafficking and one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Further investigation by CFSEU-Lethbridge, with assistance from the Lethbridge Regional Police Service Community Policing Division, led to additional arrests on Jan.30.
 Following a targeted traffic stop, police located and seized 236 grams of crack cocaine, 84 grams of powder cocaine, a laptop computer believed to be stolen and seven cell phones from the suspect’s vehicle. The cocaine has a potential street value of $40,000, according to an ALERT press release.
Cody Skinner, a 26-year-old Lethbridge man, has been charged with possession, possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of stolen property and trafficking.
 A second vehicle stop was conducted on Jan. 30 by LRPS Community Policing Division, and a woman was arrested. She was found in possession of 16 grams of crack cocaine, four grams of powder cocaine, and nine grams of marijuana.
 Feruza Abdulahi, a 27-year-old Lethbridge woman, is charged with possession, possession for the purpose of trafficking and obstructing a police officer when she provided a false name to police.