$8M in funding to help police crack down on gangs, extortion and criminal networks. Alberta RCMP gets $2M to fight organized crime; $1.5 for ALERT, $2.2M for Calgary police, $2.2M for Edmonton police
EDMONTON, Alta., — On Thursday, Premier Danielle Smith said organized crime has no place in Alberta.
“Our government is investing nearly $8 million to help law enforcement crack down on gangs, extortion and criminal networks threatening Alberta families, businesses and communities,” she said. “This funding will give police agencies across the province stronger investigative tools, better coordination and more resources to target organized crime wherever it operates.”
“To the criminals targeting Alberta communities: we are coming after you,” said Premier Smith. “To the business owners and families being intimidated or threatened: Alberta stands with you.”
Funding allocations include:
- ALERT: $1,505,000
- Alberta RCMP: $2 million
- Calgary Police Service: $2,240,535
- Edmonton Police Service: $2,245,550
Alberta RCMP launches Rural Organized Crime Team (ROCT)
The Alberta RCMP is enhancing its ability to combat organized crime and gang activity across the province, supported by the $2‑million investment from the Government of Alberta. This targeted funding will equip the Alberta RCMP with modern investigative tools and specialized resources, including advanced surveillance technology, intelligence capabilities, and digital forensic equipment to tackle increasingly complex criminal networks.
The Alberta RCMP has allocated part of the funding to establish its new Rural Organized Crime Team (ROCT), a mobile unit made of a core group of officers focused on gang activity and violence linked to drug and firearm offences. The team deploys to communities experiencing highest levels of crime, using data-driven intelligence to identify and target priority offenders causing the greatest harm.
While this new unit has a specific mandate, it won’t operate alone.
This team will be reinforced by the RCMP’s unique network of specialized units and resources to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle organized criminal activity. The Alberta RCMP will also continue working closely with municipal police partners, provincial agencies, and community stakeholders to strengthen enforcement efforts across jurisdictions.
“This funding represents a significant investment in strengthening Alberta’s response to organized crime and gang activity,” said Deputy Commissioner Trevor Daroux, Commanding Officer of the Alberta RCMP. “It allows us, across agencies and jurisdictions, to respond in a more coordinated, modern, and effective way.”
“There is no place for organized crime in our communities, our province, or our country,” said Daroux. “The Alberta RCMP is committed to working collaboratively with our policing partners and provincial leaders to disrupt and dismantle crime networks wherever they operate. Together, we are making Alberta stronger and safer for everyone.”
Edmonton police welcomes funding
Nicole Chapdelaine, deputy chief, Edmonton Police Service Investigations and Support Services Bureau welcomed the funding.
“Organized crime is increasingly coordinated, technology-enabled and transnational, making investigations more complex and resource-intensive,” she said. “This funding will help ensure we can continue our work without compromising our ability to respond to the scale and complexity of this type of crime.”
In 2025, there were 490 shootings across Alberta with one third resulting in serious injury or death. The most prolific firearm-related offenders are organized crime groups.
