Police from Regina, Weyburn, Vancouver, Moose Jaw, Burnaby, the Federal Arctic Unit and Saskatchewan RCMP from Moose Jaw, Swift Current, and White Butte along with various specialized units were all involved in an inter-provincial drug trafficking investigation targeting a prolific drug network supplying large amounts of illicit drugs across Western Canada.
The investigation began in March of last year, with officers working together to collect and corroborate information to identify those who were responsible.
Last week, RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime Saskatchewan executed six search warrants. RCMP say officers seized over three kilograms of MDMA, almost nine kilograms of cocaine and over 28 kilograms of meth.
Police believe this seizure will disrupt the supply of illicit and lethal drugs destined for distribution across Canada – particularly Saskatchewan, and state that the investigation demonstrates the presence of illicit drugs in small towns and rural areas, so it is not strictly a big city issue.
Eight people are facing drug-related charges:
• 27-year-old Nikola Galic from Burnaby, BC
• 26-year-old Cassandra Beckett-Benjamin from Toronto, ON (arrested in Burnaby, BC)
• 41-year-old Zlatko Mandaric from Burnaby, BC
• 28-year-old Sasa Bilusic from Moose Jaw, SK
• 22-year-old Braylen Breton from Moose Jaw, SK
• 41-year-old Jamie Neufeld (female) from Weyburn, SK
• 36-year-old Courtney Austin from Moose Jaw, SK
• 40-year-old Mitch Schoffer from Moose Jaw, SK
• Two individuals were released without charges laid.
Charges include:
• Trafficking in a substance or substance
• Possession of a substance for the purpose of trafficking
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.00
• Conspire to commit an indictable offence of trafficking in a controlled substance
• Conspire to commit the indictable offense of possession of property over $5,000.00
• Among others.
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
