A tip from the public helped police seize 54 kilograms of marijuana worth more than half a million dollars.

Two people are facing charges.

Police say the tip earlier this year helped them learn a large quantity of marijuana was being transported from British Columbia to Alberta.

“With this amount of marijuana, it was likely from several grow operations,” said Staff Sgt. Tom Hanson of the drug unit.

On Sept. 25, officers tracked two vehicles in a commercial parking lot near Sarcee Trail and Stoney Trail in the city’s northwest, arrested a man and a woman, and seized black garbage bags containing heat-sealed packages of marijuana.

The approximate street value of the drugs is about $535,500.

“It was all contained in one vehicle initially, and a portion of that marijuana was being transferred from one vehicle into another when the arrests were made,” Hanson said.

“In recent memory, I can’t recall a seizure of this size of processed marijuana in Calgary. In any location, it would be considered a significant seizure.”

Sandra Pearl Dalpe, 61, of Chestermere, is charged with trafficking cannabis marijuana and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Douglas Paul Hryniw, 51, of Calgary, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Hanson said the two accused were not known to Calgary police prior to this investigation.

He said, in general, large seizures of any kind of drug are often tied to organized crime.

cho@calgaryherald.com