REGINA – A drug bust involving 17 police services and units across Western Canada has put a major dent in the movement of illegal drugs.
“This investigation has demonstrated the presence of illicit drugs in small towns and rural areas – it is not strictly a big city issue. When we look at the impact of drug trafficking in our communities, there is violence and property crime. We know the abuse of drugs fuels deadly addictions which ruin the lives of Canadians every day – this is evident in the information we have released about fatal overdoses in our rural Saskatchewan communities,” says Inspector Andrew Farquhar, Officer in Charge of RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime in Saskatchewan. “Our goal is to prevent illicit drugs from entering our communities in the first place.”
The investigation began back on March 30, 2022, when FSOC partnered with RPS with a lofty goal - targeting a prolific drug network that brought large amounts of drugs across the western provinces.
After more than a year, RCMP FSOC Saskatchewan executed six search warrants with arrests made on May 11 and 12 in Weyburn, Moose Jaw, Vancouver and Burnaby. A total of 10 people were arrested and a staggering 54 Criminal Code and CDSA charges were laid.
“Bringing this investigation to a successful conclusion has not only disrupted criminal activity at multiple levels, but has also created a significant hole in the pockets of local, national and international crime groups,” says Superintendent Trent Stevely, in charge of the Investigative Services Division at RPS. “This seizure by police means these illicit drugs will never be on our streets in Saskatchewan, victimizing our communities.”
Police seized a lot of drugs, including around 3.36 kg of MDMA, 8.95 kg of cocaine, and 28.17 kg of methamphetamine
"The cocaine seized has been tested and resulted in purity levels as high as 97 percent," said RCMP in a media release. "This seizure will disrupt the supply of illicit, lethal drugs destined for distribution across Canada – particularly Saskatchewan."
As a result, the following people have been arrested and charged:
- 27-year-old Nikola Galic from Burnaby
- 26-year-old Cassandra Beckett-Benjamin from Toronto (arrested in Burnaby)
- 41-year-old Zlatko Mandaric from Burnaby
- 28-year old Sasa Bilusic from Moose Jaw
- 22-year-old Braylen Breton from Moose Jaw
- 41-year-old Jamie Neufeld (female) from Weyburn
- 36-year-old Courtney Austin from Moose Jaw
- 40-year-old Mitch Schoffer from Moose Jaw
- Two individuals were released without charges laid.
Charges include:
- Trafficking in a substance or substance, possession of a substance, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, conspire to commit trafficking, and conspire to commit possession of property over $5,000.
Galic will appear in Regina Provincial Court next on June 6 and all others will appear in Regina Provincial Court next on June 19.
This investigation received support from the following partner and police agencies:
- Regina Police Service
- Regina Integrated Intelligence Unit
- Weyburn Police Service
- Vancouver Police Department
- Moose Jaw Police Service
- “E” Division Federal and Serious Organized Crime
- “K” Division Federal and Serious Organized Crime
- Burnaby RCMP Drug Section
- Burnaby RCMP Detachment
- “G” Division Federal Arctic Unit
- Public Prosecution Service of Canada
- Correctional Services Canada
This investigation also received additional support from specialized Saskatchewan RCMP units:
- Moose Jaw RCMP Crime Reduction Team
- Swift Current RCMP Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team (STRT)
- White Butte RCMP Detachment
- Saskatchewan RCMP’s Criminal Analytical Sections
- RCMP Special Investigations Section
“Dismantling this inter-provincial, international drug-trafficking investigation required extensive resource collaboration from across the country and reacting quickly as the investigation and arrests unfolded. Working closely with established partnerships with municipal police agencies, other RCMP Divisions and our government departments provided us with a unique ability to exchange intelligence and utilize different police techniques and resources,” says Insp. Farquhar.
Getting drugs off the streets is obviously a top priority for police services. If members of the public would like to share information on drug trafficking, you can report it to your local police service, or through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS)
“The Regina Police Service will continue to work closely with our valued provincial and federal RCMP partners, along with other municipal police agencies and government agencies. Our combined efforts, shared resources and mutual investigative supports are the reasons that significant investigations like this are successful,” says Supt. Stevely.
The investigation is ongoing.
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