Edmonton, Alberta – Following a year-long investigation by the EPS Firearms Investigation Unit (FIU), the Edmonton Police Service has charged a twenty-five-year-old Edmonton man with firearms and drug trafficking offences.
In June 2022, the Edmonton Drug and Gang Enforcement Section (EDGE) recovered a handgun with a defaced serial number during an unrelated drug trafficking investigation. With the assistance of the EPS Firearms Examination Unit (FEU), the serial number was recovered, and investigators determined the firearm was registered to Ehab El-Cherkaowi, 25. FIU subsequently initiated a firearm trafficking investigation into El-Cherkaowi in October of 2022.
On Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, El-Cherkaowi was arrested while driving a vehicle in Edmonton and found to be in possession of 15 grams of cocaine packaged for distribution. On the same day, a search warrant was executed at his residence that revealed additional evidence to support firearms trafficking.
During the search, police also seized:
Approximately 410,000 illicit cigarettes (approximate street value of $100,000)
120 grams of cocaine packaged for distribution (approximate street value of $12,000)
El-Cherkaowi was released from custody while FIU continued their investigation.
In February 2023, officers with Southwest Branch patrol recovered another one of El-Cherkaowi’s registered handguns during a domestic violence investigation unrelated to him.
On Thursday, April 27, 2023, El-Cherkaowi turned himself in to police and was charged with firearms trafficking (x5), possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (x2), and trafficking in contraband tobacco. Three other family members were also charged in relation to the tobacco trafficking.
Photos of two of El-Cherkaowi’s recovered registered handguns are included below, along with pictures of the illicit cigarettes.
MRU #: F23R005
Edmonton Police Service
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