SASKATOON — A warrant to hold was extended for a woman arrested in a large drug bust in Saskatoon earlier this year.
Tricia Karpluk, 39, had an appearance Tuesday in Saskatoon Provincial Court and the warrant to hold that was issued in May, June, July, and August, was extended to Sept. 14. A warrant to hold is a type of arrest warrant that is issued by a judge for the arrest of a person who fails to appear in court.
Karpluk and 54-year-old Rudi Betthel were arrested April 26 after police raided a home in Saskatoon and Bjorkdale. The Saskatoon Integrated Crime Reduction Team (S-ICRT) seized approximately 4,068 individual does of methamphetamine, 992 doses of cocaine and about 3,062 doses of Fentanyl. They also seized two firearms.
Police raided the two homes after a traffic stop of Bethel and Karpluk near Saskatoon on Highway 7. The following investigation included the combined joint efforts of investigative teams and support units including the RCMP Prince Albert Gang Task Force, Saskatoon Integrated Crime Reduction Team, Melfort and Tisdale RCMP Detachments, Saskatoon Air Support Unit, RCMP Special “I” Section, Saskatoon Special Investigations Unit, Regina Special “O,” Saskatoon Tactical Support Unit and the RCMP Emergency Response Team.
Karpluk, 39, was charged with trafficking drugs, possession of proceeds obtained by crime, possession of proceeds obtained by crime under $5,000, possession a weapon for a dangerous purpose, storing a firearm in a careless manner, and possession of a firearm knowing the serial number had been removed.
Betthel was charged with five counts of trafficking drugs, five counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, and five counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. He is scheduled to appear next in Saskatoon Provincial Court on Sept. 15.
The charges against Karpluk and Betthel haven’t been proven in court.
