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Items recovered in an investigation in the Hudson Bay area Photo: Sask RCMP
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2024 was a busy year for the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Enforcement Response Team (SERT).  

SERT includes Crime Reduction Teams (CRT), the Human Trafficking and Counter Exploitation Unit (HTCEU), Offender Management Unit (OMU), Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Teams (STRT) and Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Teams (WEST) – targets criminal groups and offenders who threaten the well-being of Saskatchewan people. 

108 RCMP officers and 31 civilian support staff are a part of SERT with 10 different teams located in the province.  

Resulting from criminal investigations over the past year, Saskatchewan RCMP SERT made 827 arrests, executed 392 judicial authorizations and search warrants, and laid 1,015 Criminal Code and Controlled Drug and Substances Act charges.  

An example of SERT’s work last year firearms trafficking situation in Hudson Bay area. In March, Prince Albert CRT and Saskatchewan RCMP's Critical Incident Response Team executed a search warrant at a residence in the Veillardville, SK area. 

Officers were able to locate and seize 40 rifles, two handguns, approximately 20 additional firearms in various states of disassemble, more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition, two crates of illegal cigarettes, mint coins and gold jewelry investigators believe are stolen, and small amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine, and other drug trafficking paraphernalia. The items can be found in the picture above. 

An individual was arrested and charged with multiple firearms offences including trafficking and possession of prohibited firearms. The suspect was also charged with possession of stolen property and possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine 

“By removing dozens of firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition from the illicit market, our teams prevented these weapons from potentially falling into the hands of criminals and gang members who could use them to harm and intimidate community members,” says Insp. Jeff Smoliak, Saskatchewan RCMP's SERT Senior Investigative Officer in a release.  

“This is a prime example of how Saskatchewan RCMP SERT and local detachments work together as the provincial police force to enhance community safety in Saskatchewan.” 

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