Traffic stop near Regina results in seizure of nearly $900K

A traffic stop near Regina in September has generated nearly $900,000 for Saskatchewan’s Civil Forfeiture Program.

In a media release Wednesday, the Saskatchewan RCMP provided the details of the seizure of $897,540.

The Mounties said Saskatchewan Highway Patrol officers performed a commercial traffic inspection on a semi travelling east on the outskirts of Regina last Sept. 1.

According to the release, the officers noticed “commercial vehicle violations and missing documentation” during the stop. The officers then searched the semi and found two large duffel bags and one black canvas shopping bag.

“The duffel bags were each filled with a sum of cash in clear, vacuum-sealed plastic bags. The black canvas shopping bag contained two packages, both containing a sum of cash,” the release said.

“The cash was packaged in a way that was consistent with organized crime. As a result, all bags were seized by officers for further investigation.”

(RCMP/Submitted)

The RCMP said the search turned up $897,540 in Canadian currency.

The truck’s two occupants were travelling to Headingly, Man., the RCMP said. The two men were taken into custody, but were subsequently released without charges.

Police said the RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime (FSOC) Saskatchewan took over the investigation, which also involved the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol, the White Butte RCMP and the Regina Integrated Intelligence Unit.

“Over the coming months, officers initiated an investigation into the proceeds seized, which included conducting background checks, drafting judicial authorizations, and examining evidence collected from the scene,” the release said.

The release said that, after consulting with the Saskatoon RCMP General Investigation Section, Public Prosecution Service Canada, and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice and Office of the Attorney General, FSOC determined the money should be referred to the province’s Civil Forfeiture Program.

On March 30, the Crown applied for civil forfeiture, police said. Regina’s Court of King’s Bench “deemed the proceeds were the result of unlawful activity and ordered the money be forfeited to Saskatchewan’s Civil Forfeiture Program,” the release said.

Police said the investigation is complete, so no further information would be provided. The release didn’t explain where the money came from or why charges weren’t laid against the two men in the truck.