Calgary overdose deaths lead to charges against drug dealers

Calgary police say three people are facing charges as part of a pilot project targeting drug dealers following overdose deaths in the city.

Officials say the arrests follow two “extensive investigations” conducted as part of CPS's OverDOSE pilot project, an initiative that uses members of the drug unit following fatal overdoses in Calgary.

The first of two investigations was launched in August 2022 after a man was found dead in a house following a suspected drug overdose.

Police quickly found and arrested two men suspected of selling drugs to the victim. Officers also seized a quantity of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Ross Michael Darr, 32, of Calgary, faces three counts of trafficking, three counts of possession of property obtained by crime and two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of traffic.

Brandon Howatt, 38, of Calgary, faces two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

The second investigation, launched following the death of a man in a house in October 2023, quickly found another individual suspected of being involved in drug trafficking.

Police executed a search warrant at a home in the 0-100 block of Skyview Ranch Landing NE, seizing:

• About 10 grams of crack;
• Approximately 43 grams of cocaine;
• 18 hydrocodone tablets;
• 414 oxycodone tablets;
• 20 grams of MDMA;
• $5,050 in Canadian currency;
• A .22 caliber M15 rifle;
• Ammunition;
• Mobile phones;
• Balance; And
• Other drug paraphernalia.

Karanbir Singh Khaira, 26, of Calgary, is charged with 16 counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, 16 counts of possession of property obtained by crime, four counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, careless storage of a firearm, possession of an unauthorized firearm and possession of a loaded firearm with restricted authorization.

Calgary police say 571 people have died from drug overdoses in the city in 2023 and that authorities will use “all available resources” to arrest drug dealers.