SASKATOON – Six people charged after police busted a sophisticated organized crime drug network were back in court Wednesday.
Court records show that a preliminary hearing was held for Rajandeer Singh, 29, Andrew Karamat, 24, Gurkeert Hehar, 22, Rachel Kidd, 29, Japjee Minhas, 21, and Ali Sarfraz, 27. The matter was adjourned to Oct. 11.
Minhas, Sarfraz, Singh, Hehar, and 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. Kidd was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine.
Five search warrants were issued in Saskatoon on April 8, 2021, in Project Octane at residences 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.
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.
The organized crime network investigation into trafficking in cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl took place in Saskatoon and Calgary over a six-week period in the spring of 2021. The nine-month interprovincial joint investigation dubbed Project Octane involved the Saskatoon Integrated Crime Reduction Team, the Saskatoon Police Service Drug Unit, and the Calgary Police Service Guns and Gangs Unit.
Calgary Police arrested nine people, including Amandeep Saggu, 32, Ravneet Gill, 26, Prabhjyot Bhatti, 23, Jarmanjit Datewas, 24, Jaskaran Sidhu, 23, Jasman Dhaliwal, 20, Steven Whyte, 28, Irkham Farooq, 24, and Safwan Riaz, 23, all of Calgary.
— for more from Crime, Cops and Court.
