REGINA – The case of an Ontario man caught transporting 100kg of cannabis in the trailer of the semi he was driving nearly three years ago was heard yesterday.
Back on Nov. 25, 2020, the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol stopped a truck and trailer for a commercial vehicle inspection on Highway 1 between Pense and Grand Coulee. In the course of the inspection by Highway Patrol and White Butte RCMP, around 100kg of cannabis was discovered in the trailer.
The driver - Cesk Kalaj, 54, of Milton, Ont. - was arrested that day, charged with possession of unstamped cannabis and unlawful possession for distribution. He was given a conditional release after his first court appearance, and the matter was finally resolved in Regina Provincial Court on Sept. 19 with a joint submission proposed by the Federal Crown and defence counsel. Kalaj entered a guilty plea to the distribution count, and the Crown was willing to stay the other charge at the conclusion of sentencing.
Judge Kevin Lang accepted the submission - a two-year less a day conditional sentence Kalaj is to serve in the community - including conditions that he remain in the Province of Ontario in an approved residence. He’s also bound by a 10-year weapons prohibition, and a victim fine surcharge of $200 was imposed.
Through an Albanian interpreter, Judge Lang addressed Kalaj about the seriousness of the charge.
“These are significant matters,” Judge Lang said. “Despite the fact that you had minimal involvement and were only a carrier of this product, you still performed an important part of distributing illegal substances and allowed for that to happen.”
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