In May 2022, Saskatchewan RCMP's Prince Albert Crime Reduction Team (CRT) began investigating an illicit drug trafficking operation in Melfort and surrounding area.
This in-depth investigation continued through the summer and into the fall. CRT officers used specialized advanced tactics, including surveillance and judicially-authorized tracking, to gather evidence.
As a result of the evidence-gathering, CRT officers obtained warrants to enter and search a number of properties in the Melfort and Kinistino area. On October 20, 2022, officers searched three residences, a storage unit and three vehicles.
Officers located and seized 178 grams of cocaine, 15 grams of methamphetamine, a sum of cash and three non-restricted firearms, which investigation determined were possessed without a license.
Officers have charged three individuals arrested during the execution of these search warrants.
David Barks, 39, from Melfort, SK is charged with:
- two counts, possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine and methamphetamine), Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
- one count, possession of the proceeds of crime, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code; and
- one count, possession of firearm without a license, Section 91(1), Criminal Code.
Grant Day, 44, from Melfort, SK and Tanis Michel, 24, from Kinistino, SK are each charged with one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine), Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Information 90479230, 90479228).
All three accused are scheduled to appear in Melfort Provincial Court on December 12, 2022.
"Our CRT officers worked very meticulously over several months on this in-depth investigation, which ultimately resulted in three individuals being charged and a significant amount of cocaine and methamphetamine removed from the streets," says Supt. Glenn Church, officer in charge of Saskatchewan RCMP's Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Team (SERT). "Their investigation determined these illicit drugs were being trafficked to multiple communities, including Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Melfort, Star City, Tisdale, Kinistino and Pleasantdale. All of these communities are safer because of this drug seizure and the dismantlement of this trafficking operation."
The Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Team (SERT) consists of Saskatchewan RCMP's Crime Reduction Team (CRT) and Warrant Enforcement Suppression Team (WEST), as well as the Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team (STRT). SERT will help the Saskatchewan RCMP continue to fulfil its mandate as the province's police force – keeping our communities safe.
Saskatchewan RCMP's Melfort detachment, Warrant Enforcement Suppression Team and Traffic Services, as well as the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) assisted in this investigation.