On May 15, 2020, Saskatchewan RCMP officers conducted a search at a rural property, 27 km north of Biggar, in the RM of Glenside, SK. as part of an investigation into the trafficking of controlled substances.
Officers conducted a thorough search of a residence, two outbuildings and two vehicles located on the property. As a result of these searches, officers located and seized a significant quantity of extremely dangerous drugs including:
- 1,000 grams of methamphetamine
- 444 grams of fentanyl, equating to 4,400 single doses
- 3,035 mL of gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
- 500 alazopram (Xanax) pills
- 400 tabs of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
Other items relating to the trafficking of controlled substances were seized, including:
- $16,080 in Canadian currency
- 2 money counters
- scales, packaging for drugs
- 8 cell phones and several computers and tablets
Officers also recovered several weapons including a semi-automatic assault rifle, a shotgun, a sawed-off double barrel shot gun, a spent light anti-tank weapon, and a revolver. Body armour was also recovered.
As a result of this investigation two adult males are facing charges.
39-year-old Kurt Elliot Miller of the RM of Glenside, SK was arrested by Regina Police Service after a traffic stop on May 14, 2020 in Regina. As a result of that stop he was charged with:
- CDSA S. 5(2) for trafficking cocaine
- CDSA S. 5(2) for trafficking methamphetamine
- Criminal Code S. 355(B) Possession of Proceeds of Crime under $5,000
- Criminal Code S. 88 Possession of a Weapon Dangerous to the Public
- Criminal Code S. 733.1(1) Breach of Probation
As a result of the property search, Miller is charged with multiple drug related offences including:
- CDSA S. 5(2) Possession of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, alazopram (Xanax), gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for the purpose of trafficking
- Criminal Code S.355 Possessing Proceeds of Crime over $5,000.00
- 16 Criminal Code charges related to firearms
49-year-old Mitch Hutchinson of the RM of Glenside, SK was arrested by the Saskatchewan RCMP during the execution of a search warrant at this property on May 14, 2020. Hutchinson is charged with multiple drug related offences including:
- CDSA S. 5(2) - Possession of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, alazopram (Xanax), gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for the purpose of trafficking
- CDSA S. 5(2) for trafficking marihuana
- Criminal Code S.355 for Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5,000.00
- 18 Criminal Code charges related to firearms
The female taken into custody during the execution of the search warrant at this property on May 14, 2020 has been released and is not facing any charges.
Hutchinson will make his first court appearance on May 19, 2020 in Saskatoon Provincial court. Miller will also make his first court appearance on May 19, 2020 in Regina Provincial Court.
"This investigation has removed significant quantities of dangerous drugs from our communities," said Sgt. Jason Kerr, Saskatchewan RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime. "The Saskatchewan RCMP is committed to targeting and disrupting the sale of illicit drugs in our province. The types of drugs seized during this investigation have had dangerous, and at times, deadly impacts on the residents of Saskatchewan."
"The sale and distribution of these dangerous substances results in an increase in criminal activity in our communities and overdoses, which can be fatal," said Sgt. Jason Kerr, Saskatchewan RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime. "Thousands of people in our province could have been affected had these hazardous substances not been removed from our streets."
Overdose deaths continue to happen in Saskatchewan, most recently several people died in Regina. This tragic loss of life underscores the dangers of taking illicit substances. Methamphetamine and fentanyl are extremely dangerous – even a small quantity of fentanyl can be deadly.
GHB is often called a date-rape drug, because its sedative effects prevent victims from resisting sexual assault. In liquid form GHB is tasteless, odourless, and colourless and can be slipped into drinks without the victim noticing.
Thank you to our partners at the Regina Police Service and the Saskatoon Police Service for their assistance with this investigation.
The Saskatchewan RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit, Saskatoon RCMP General Investigation Section (GIS) and the Saskatoon RCMP Forensic Identification Section (FIS) continue the investigation.