SASKATOON – Several accused in a sophisticated organized crime drug network in Saskatchewan and Alberta will have a non-jury trial in Saskatoon Court of King’s Bench this November.
The Saskatoon Integrated Crime Reduction Team and the Saskatoon Police Service Drug Unit, in partnership with the Calgary Police Service Guns and Gangs Unit conducted a nine-month inter-provincial joint investigation into trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl, which they dubbed Project Octane.
In July 2021, five Saskatoon men were charged after police raided five homes in April 2021 in the city. The five homes where search warrants were issued were in the 100 block of Fast Crescent, the 200 block of Willis Crescent, the 1100 block of College Drive, the 300 block of 5th Avenue North, and a hotel room in the 400 block of 2nd Avenue South.
In their search, police seized $226,600 cash, 4,177.96 grams of Cocaine, 166.99 grams of Fentanyl, 67.06 grams of Methamphetamine, 568.92 grams of Marijuana, and six vehicles.
Calgary Police Service had executed 23 search warrants in Alberta between April of 2020 and May 2021. This resulted in 73 charges being laid against nine people.
In Saskatoon, Japjee Minhas, Ali Sarfraz, Rajandeep Singh, Gurkeert Hehar, and Andrew Karamat were charged with conspiracy to commit trafficking of methamphetamine and cocaine, trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine, possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine, possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000 and commission of an offence for the benefit of a criminal organization. Minhas was additionally charged with directing an offence for a criminal organization.
The charges against the accused haven’t been tested in court.
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