Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
On August 1, 2024, following a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act investigation, RCMP Federal Policing Federal Serious and Organized Crime – Northwest Region, in collaboration with the Saskatoon Police Service’s Tactical Support Unit and Crisis Negotiation Team, as well as the Saskatoon Integrated Intelligence Unit and RCMP Pacific Region Federal Policing, executed search warrants at two residences and on two vehicles in the area of Shillington Crescent and the Eastview neighbourhood in Saskatoon.
The following items were seized as part of this investigation:
- Approximately 26 kg of suspected methamphetamine
- Approximately 1 kg of suspected heroine
- Approximately 9 kg of suspected cocaine
- Other smaller quantities of believed illicit drugs, including:
- Psilocybin (mushrooms)
- Approximately 1 kg of suspected MDMA
- Over 1,000 Xanax pills
- Approximately $43,000 in cash
“Our partnership with our municipal policing partners and federal counterparts played a key role in this successful investigation,” shares Insp. Richard Pickering of RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region. “We know that the reach of illicit drugs impacts all corners of Canada and bring with it a host of other criminal activities and social issues to our communities. This is just one example of how multiple agencies can come together to jointly investigate safety threats impacting Canadians, remove dangerous drugs from our streets and bring those responsible to justice.”
“Partnering with the RCMP to disrupt the supply chain of illicit drugs and investigate interprovincial crime is of incredible importance to the Saskatoon Police Service”, says Superintendent of Operational Support Dale Solie. “While this seizure was made in Saskatoon, together with our federal policing partners, we share a common objective to prevent illicit drugs from flowing further into Saskatchewan communities and we’re proud to have supported that objective through this investigation.”
39-year-old Edwin Covaci from Saskatoon is charged with:
- 2 counts, possessing (cocaine) for the purpose of trafficking, section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
- 1 count, proceeds (cash over $5,000.00) obtained by crime, section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code
31-year-old Nicolas Franke from Saskatoon is charged with:
- 1 count, possessing (methamphetamine) for the purpose of trafficking, section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
- 1 count, possessing (cocaine) for the purpose of trafficking, section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
- 1 count, possessing (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) for the purpose of trafficking, section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
- 1 count, possessing (psilocybin) for the purpose of trafficking, section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
Covaci (information 90529902) and Franke (information 90529901) are scheduled to appear in Saskatoon Provincial Court on Sep. 19, 2024.
This criminal investigation continues.