Saskatoon police go after ‘organized crime operation’

After a 14-month investigation, Saskatoon police have broken up what they’re calling “a sophisticated organized crime operation.”

In a release Friday, police said Saskatoon’s Crime Reduction Team opened an investigation in October of 2021 after learning of a large-scale operation that was trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine.

On Thursday, members of that team – with support from the Criminal Investigations Division and Tactical Support Unit – executed search warrants at two properties in the 900 block of Kristjanson Road, a property in the 1200 block of 10th Street East and a property in the 500 block of Hamm Crescent.

Police said they seized a house on Hamm Crescent (with an estimated value of $700,000), around $79,000 in cash, a Mercedes-Benz CLA250, an Acura ILX, a Nissan Rogue, jewelry, financial documents, and paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking.

A man and a woman, both aged 33, were arrested at a house on Kristjanson Road. Another 33-year-old man was arrested at a business in the 400 block of Second Avenue South.

The three were charged with a variety of offences, including trafficking in a controlled substance (cocaine and methamphetamine), conspiracy to trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of the proceeds of crime, and operating as a criminal organization.

Police said additional charges may be laid as the investigation continues.