SASKATOON – A sophisticated organized crime drug network in Saskatchewan and Alberta has been taken down.
The Saskatoon Integrated Crime Reduction Team and the Saskatoon Police Service Drug Unit, in partnership with the Calgary Police Service Guns and Gangs Unit concluded a nine-month inter-provincial joint investigation and made several arrests.
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 project was deemed Project Octane in Saskatoon and included partners within the Saskatoon Police Service and the RCMP F Division.
Five search warrants were issued in Saskatoon on April 8 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.
In July, five people were charged in Saskatoon. Twenty-year-old Japjee Minhas, 26-year-old Ali Sarfraz, 28-year-old Rajandeep Singh, 21-year-old Gurkeert Hehar, and 23-year-old 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.
Twenty-eight-year-old Rachel Kidd was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking in cocaine.
During the investigation, Calgary Police executed 23 search warrants in Alberta between April of 2020 and May 2021. This resulted in 73 charges being laid against nine people, in a time period leading up to November 2021.
Saskatoon Police say that the names and details of these charges weren’t released until now to avoid compromising the investigation.
Integrated Crime Reduction Teams are comprised of RCMP and Municipal police officers, which are funded through the Ministry of Justice, Corrections and Policing.
Calgary Police arrest nine
Calgary Police utilized more than 16 units across their service and arrested nine people in Calgary.
Amandeep Saggu, 31, of Calgary, has been charged with five organized crime and drug offences, including instructing the commission of an offence for a criminal organization, trafficking of controlled substances, production of a controlled substance and possession of property obtained by crime. Saggu will next appear in court on Dec. 17, 2021.
Ravneet Gill, 25, of Calgary, has been charged with three organized crime and drug offences, including participation in activities of a criminal organization, production of a controlled substance and possession of property obtained by crime. Gill will next appear in court on Dec. 17, 2021.
Prabhjyot Bhatti, 22, of Calgary, has been charged with five organized crime and drug offences, including participation in activities of a criminal organization, trafficking of controlled substances, production of a controlled substance and possession of property obtained by crime. Bhatti will next appear in court on Dec. 17, 2021.
Jarmanjit Datewas, 23, of Calgary, has been charged with five organized crime and drug offences, including participation in activities of a criminal organization, trafficking of controlled substances, production of a controlled substance and possession of property obtained by crime. Datewas will next appear in court on Jan. 7, 2022.
Jaskaran Sidhu, 22, of Calgary, was charged with 27 weapons and breach offences, including discharge a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and possession of a weapon contrary to a prohibition order. Sidhu appeared in court on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Jasman Dhaliwal, 19, of Calgary, was charged with ten weapons and breach offences, including possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possession of a weapon obtained by crime and failing to comply with a sentence or disposition. Dhaliwal will next appear in court on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022.
Steven Whyte, 27, of Calgary, was charged with 10 drug, weapons and breach offences, including possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possession of a weapon contrary to a prohibition order. Whyte will appear next in court on Feb. 28, 2022.
Safwan Riaz, 22, of Calgary, was charged with four drug offences, including of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000. Riaz will appear next in court on Oct. 3, 2022.
Irkham Farooq, 23, of Calgary, was charged with four drug offences including possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000. Farooq will next appear in court on Jan. 7, 2022.
-Updated with more information
