Second man faces homicide charges in double killing connected to international drug trafficking ring

A second man is facing homicide charges in connection with a fatal shooting in a Calgary Superstore parking lot and is believed to be connected to a massive international organized crime drug trafficking ring.

Blais Delaire, 26, was facing a weapons trafficking charge in connection with the 2017 killings. He is now charged with two counts of manslaughter with a firearm.

A conviction on that charge comes with a mandatory minimum sentence of four years in prison.

Delaire made a brief court appearance Thursday on the new manslaughter charges, the case has been put over to a bail hearing scheduled for next week.

Organized crime prosecutorRajbir Dhillonhas been assigned to the case and defence lawyer Susan Karparepresents Delaire.

• 2nd suspect arrested after men shot down in Superstore parking lot in 2017
• Fatal Superstore parking lot shooting linked to cross-border drug trade, investigation reveals

Last May, Colin Reitberger, 23, and Anees Amr, 26 were shot to death in the parking lot of theSuperstore at 48thStreet and 130th Avenue S.E.

Investigators have said the incident was related to a drug dispute between OuelletteandReitberger, and thatAmrwas not involved in criminal activity and was not an intended target.

Christian Ouellette has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting.

Police are still looking to the public for help tracking down the driver of a red Dodge Durango who dropped off Delaire at a gas station, at70 Freeport Blvd. N.E., after the shooting.

The Durango is likely a 2004 to 2006 model with a sunroof.

Earlier this month, police connected the killings to an organized crime cross-border drug trafficking ring, operating between the United Statesand Canada. The investigation into the crime ring involved agencies on both sides of the border and was dubbedProject Arbour.

On March 1, CPS announced a major development involving the laying of 46 charges against six people allegedly involved in the drug ring.

Calgary police have been working with ALERT, RCMP and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on the investigation.

Officials have said the fatal shootings were connected to the seizure of 100 kilograms of meth two years ago in Utah, which also led to the arrests of three Calgary-area men.