(file photo/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Crime stats

Over 5,000 grams of drugs, 130 guns seized in eight months by police

Sep 6, 2024 | 11:30 AM

The Warrant Enforcement Teams of the RCMP in Prince Albert and Meadow Lake/Saskatoon have been busy between last December and this past July.

Newly released numbers show Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team (WEST) officers executed 23 search warrants and arrested 75 people out of 96 arrest warrants.

“I am proud of the continued excellent work of the Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Team (SERT), who have removed 128 firearms and almost 12 kilograms of drugs from Saskatchewan communities in the first half of this year alone,” Saskatchewan RCMP Commanding Officer Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore said.

The province said the WEST teams’ purpose is to target high-profile offenders including gang members and violent offenders with outstanding warrants which are a threat to public safety.

In addition to funding the WEST teams, the province also kicks in money for Crime Reduction Teams (CRT) and the Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team (STRT).

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Combined, the three teams have made almost 500 arrests (most were by the CRT) and laid over 600 charges.

They investigated 26 human trafficking cases and seized 128 guns.

Just under 5,000 grams of cocaine have been seized and almost 1,000 grams of meth and three grams of fentanyl. Fentanyl is the source drug for most overdoses and municipal police have seized much higher amounts during their investigations.

RCMP teams have been busy.

Well over 6,000 grams of other drugs were also found, including psilocybin (magic mushrooms), MDMA, and prescription pills. Almost 5,000 grams of cannabis were seized as well, including a large seizure on Highway 1 after a traffic stop resulted in pallets of cannabis found in the back of a semi tractor’s cargo trailer.

Cannabis is legal to buy and use in Saskatchewan, but only licensed businesses can work with large amounts.

RCMP CRTs respond to crime surges in rural areas, targeting prolific offenders and street gangs in Saskatchewan.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com