Manslaughter charges over tainted drugs a first for Sask.

For the first time ever in Saskatchewan, manslaughter charges have been laid after people died from overdoses allegedly involving tainted drugs.

The investigation dates back to March 2018 when emergency services across Saskatoon responded to numerous drug overdoses.

Four people died; three others recovered after they were treated in hospital.

Three men were later arrested and were initially charged with drug trafficking and weapons offences. Police said the drug taken by the victims was cocaine laced with fentanyl.

Over a year later, police announced they’d added charges of manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing injury.

Det. Staff-Sgt. Vince Ashmeade with the Saskatoon police major crimes unit addressed media Friday afternoon.

He said there was a lot of evidence to go through to get to this point in the investigation.

“Witness statements, our analysis of phones, also our analysis in regards to the drugs,” he said. “Put all those together and with the evidence we have, which will come out in court, that will speak to how those charges were laid.”

According to police, two customers contacted the suspected dealers after realizing the cocaine was tainted, but at least one more sale was allegedly made. Police said that sale resulted in overdoses that killed two people.

During their investigation, police seized cocaine, cocaine mixed with fentanyl, heroin, marijuana, more than $14,000 in cash and a pistol.

Two of the accused, Shervin Beeharry and Japmanjot Grewal, have been held in custody since they were arrested last year. They were both arrested again at the Regina Correctional Centre on the new charges.

A third suspect, Azam Kabani, has been out on bail since the initial arrests. He was arrested on the new charges Thursday in New Westminster, B.C.

All three men appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court on Friday and are due back for hearings next week.