Five men are facing a total of 52 charges after a nine-month, cross-country investigation into the Calgary organized-crime-related kidnappings of two women.
The “innocent victims” were abducted in separate, “sophisticated and planned events” in May 2023 because of their connection with individuals allegedly involved in drug-related organized crime, Calgary Police Staff-Sergeant Roland Stewart said during a March 18 press conference.
The first kidnapping occurred May 2, 2023, when a woman in her 20s was forced into a vehicle by an unknown man outside her northeast Calgary workplace shortly after 6 p.m. The woman’s family called police after being notified of her abduction.
During the subsequent investigation, police learned a woman in her 50s had been kidnapped at gunpoint from a southeast Calgary residence. This kidnapping occurred several hours after the first and was believed to be an act of retaliation, said Staff-Sgt. Stewart, who is part of the Calgary police organized crime response unit.
“This is an example of how organized crime-related violence impacts more than just those involved, including innocent family members,” he said.
Both women were taken to separate residences in Calgary that were rented through Airbnb, where they were assaulted “multiple times” before being released more than 30 hours later, police said in a statement. One of the women was taken to hospital after her release.
Two investigative teams carried out a nine-month investigation that included the search of numerous electronic devices and five properties located in Calgary, Edmonton, and Windsor, Ont.
“Much like legitimate business networks, organized-crime networks are not isolated to Calgary, and this investigation required us to liaise with our partners across the country,” Staff-Sgt. Stewart said. “In this case, we determined several offenders were from outside of Calgary, and likely hired through their criminal connections.”
He said Calgary’s investigators worked with the Windsor Police Service, Vancouver Police Department, Lethbridge Police Service, and the Edmonton Police Service.
Two of the suspects, Raejean Charles Sydney Hudson, 23, and Enyi-Egbe Idedevbo, 28, both of Windsor, Ont., are facing one charge of kidnapping each. They were arrested in November 2023 and are scheduled to appear in court on April 2.
Edmonton residents Code Ouellette, 38, and Aireajah Taylor-Francois, 21, were arrested Jan. 29 and face one count each of kidnapping, robbery, sexual assault, theft over $5,000, break and enter to commit an indictable offence, disguised with intent to commit an indictable offence, and using an imitation firearm to commit an indictable offence.
Mr. Ouellette is set to appear in court April 12, while Mr. Taylor-Francois is expected in court April 2.
Facing 36 charges after his Feb. 15 arrest is Ramien Joshua Naimi, 34, of Calgary. His charges include several weapons-related offences, uttering threats, identity theft and 29 counts of failure to comply with a release order. Police also recovered a loaded shotgun during a search linked to Mr. Naimi’s arrest. He is to appear in court March 27.
Organized crime has evolved in Calgary over the past decade, with criminals frequently switching allegiances for money, Staff-Sgt. Stewart said.
“While these individuals don’t always identify themselves as ‘groups’, their relationships both within and outside of their network are very volatile, and fractures result in the violence that we see,” he said. “This adds complexity when we are working to prevent and suppress organized crime-related violence.”
