Fourteen people from across western Canada are facing drug and weapons charges after search warrants were issued on several properties in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
The operation, dubbed Project FORSETI, was conducted by the Integrated Organized Crime Unit in Saskatchewan and began in November 2013.
On Wednesday, police issued warrants in Saskatchewan and Alberta in the case:
- 9 residences, 2 commercial properties in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- 1 residence in tar City, Saskatchewan
- 1 business in Melfort, Saskatchewan
- 1 business in Nipawin, Saskatchewan
- 2 residences in Warman, Saskatchewan
- 2 residences in Red Deer, Alberta
- 1 vehicle in Calgary, Alberta
Investigators seized drugs and weapons during the course of the investigation including:
- 5.4 kilograms of methamphetamine
- 2.6 kilograms of cocaine
- 3,358 fentanyl pills (counterfeit oxycontin)
- 107 grams of heroin
- 145 pounds of marijuana
- 456 dilaudid pills
- 454 grams of cannabis resin (hash)
- About $100,000 currency as proceeds of crime
- Seven vehicles as offence related property
- About 200 firearms including prohibited and restricted firearms (some of the firearms seized were loaded and some were unsecured)
- Tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition
- Four ballistic vests
- One conducted energy weapon
Fourteen people are facing charges in the case as follows:
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John Fekete, of Saskatoon, is charged with the following and appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court this morning (January 15, 2015)
1. Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (cannabis), Section 5(1) CDSA;
2. Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000, 354(1) & 355(a) CC
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Carl Trobak, of Saskatoon, is charged with the following and appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court this morning (January 15, 2015)
1. Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (cocaine), Section 5(1) CDSA;
2. Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5,000, 354(1) & 355(b) CC
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Justin Smith, of Saskatoon, is charged with the following and appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court this morning (January 15, 2015)
1. Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (cocaine), Section 5(1) CDSA & Section 465(1)(c) CC
2. 3 counts of: Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (fentanyl), Section 5(1) CDSA;
3. 3 counts of: Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (heroin), Section 5(1) CDSA;
4. Conspiracy to Traffic in a Controlled Substance (cocaine), Section 5(1) CDSA;
5. Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (cocaine), Section 5(2) CDSA;
6. 3 counts of: Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000, 354(1) & 355(a) CC
7. 5 counts of: Failure to comply with conditions Section 145(3) CC
8. Aggravated assault Section 268(1) CC
9. Weapon Trafficking Section 99(1) CC
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Daryl Nagy, of Saskatoon, is charged with the following and appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court this morning (January 15, 2015)
1. Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (cocaine), Section 5(2) CDSA;
2. Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (cocaine), Section 5(1) CDSA;
3. 2 counts of: Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000, 354(1) CDSA & 355(a) CC
4. Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5,000, 354(1) & 355(b) CC
5. Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (cocaine), Section 5(1) CDSA;
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Bradley Carl Mann, of Martensville, is charged with the following and appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court this morning (January 15, 2015)
1. Conspiracy to Traffic in a Controlled Substance (cocaine), Section 5(1) CDSA & Section 465(1)c CC
2. Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (cocaine), Section 5(1) CDSA;
3. Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (cocaine), Section 5(2) CDSA;
4. Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000, 354(1) CDSA & 355(a) CC
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Terry Eide, of Calgary, is charged with the following and will appear in court at a later date to be determined
1. Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (cocaine), Section 5(1) CDSA
2. Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (fentanyl), Section 5(1) CDSA
3. Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000, 354(1) CDSA & 355(a) CC
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Rob Allen, of Saskatoon, is charged with the following and appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court this morning (January 15, 2015)
1. 2 counts of: Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (cocaine), Section 5(1) CDSA
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Ryan Hillman, of Saskatoon, is charged with the following and appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court this morning (January 15, 2015)
1. 3 counts of: Conspiracy to Traffic in a Controlled Substance (cannabis), Section 5(1) CDSA & 465(1)(c) CC
2. Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (cannabis), Section 5(1) CDSA
3. Aggravated Assault, Section 268(1) CC
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Mark Michael Nowakowski, of Saskatoon, is charged with the following and appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court this morning (January 15, 2015)
1. Aggravated Assault, Section 268(1) CC
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Christopher Keith Lester, of Saskatoon, is charged with the following and appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court this morning (January 15, 2015)
1. 2 counts of: Conspiracy to Traffic in a Controlled Substance (cannabis), Section 5(1) CDSA & 465(1)(c) CC
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Layne Joseph James Boorman, of Saskatoon, is charged with the following and appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court this morning (January 15, 2015)
1. Aggravated Assault, Section 268 (1) CC
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Armand Hounjet, of Melfort, is charged with the following and appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court this morning (January 15, 2015)
1. Weapon Trafficking, Section 99 CC (3 counts)
2. 2 counts of: Possess a firearm dangerous to the public peace, Section 88 CC
3. 2 counts of: Illegally transfer a firearm, Section 101 (1) CC
4. Transport a firearm in a careless manner, Section 86(1) CC
5. Store a firearm in an unsafe manner, Section 86(2) CC
6. Aggravated assault, Section 268(1) CC
7. Trafficking of Controlled Substance (cannabis) 5(1) CDSA
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Travis Matthew Miles, of Saskatoon, is charged with the following and appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court this morning (January 15, 2015)
1. Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (methamphetamine), Section 5(2) CDSA
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Thai Duong Tran, of Vancouver, is charged with the following and appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court this morning (January 15, 2015)
1. Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (cocaine), Section 5(1) CDSA
2. Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (fentanyl), Section 5(1) CDSA
3. Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine), Section 5(1) CDSA
4. Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5,000, 354(1) & 355(b) CC
A search was also conducted in Burnaby, B.C. on January 6, 2015 and police seized two pill presses and several kilograms of pre-mixed powders. Investigators say the presses were industrial level machines and are commonly associated with the production of MDMA (ecstasy) and fentanyl (counterfeit oxycontin).
Police say they became aware of the existence of the pill presses after they were notified of deaths related to counterfeit oxycontin in September, 2014.
They say counterfeit oxycontin has been linked to several recent deaths in western Canada and that the fentanyl pills seized during the investigation are of the same chemical composition as the ones responsible for the recent deaths in Saskatoon.
“This investigation clearly demonstrates there are individuals who are determined to bring harm into our communities. We can see by the pill press and quantity of illegal drugs and other materials seized, this was not an amateur operation,” said Detective Inspector Jerome Engele, Investigative Support Section, Criminal Investigation Division, Saskatoon Police Service, “It is important for everyone to remember that the only safe medication to take is one prescribed by your physician and purchased from a pharmacy. There is no way to ever guarantee the safety of drugs that are purchased illegally.”
Several of the accused appeared in Saskatoon provincial court Thursday.
The investigation is continuing and police say arrest warrants and more charges are anticipated in the upcoming weeks.
(With files from saskatoon.ctvnews.ca)
