A half million cigarettes seized near Swift Current

Police seized 500,000 illicit cigarettes at a stop near Swift Current.

Saskatchewan RCMP's Roving Traffic Unit was making what they called a proactive patrol on July 15, 2025 near Swift Current.

Police say they pulled over a vehicle on Highway #1, which was carrying the cigarettes, approximately 5 kgs of illicit cannabis and approximately 292 grams of cocaine.

They arrested 63-year-old Colette Ripper from Calgary, AB.

The RCMP noted that Ripper claimed to be travelling from Alberta to Saskatchewan.

She is charged with:

• one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
• one count, sell, offer for sale, transport, deliver, distribute, or have in her possession for the purpose of sale a tobacco product, or a raw leaf tobacco that is unstamped, Section 121.1(1), Criminal Code; and
• one count, possession for the purpose of distributing, Section 9(2), Cannabis Act.

Ripper is scheduled to appear in Swift Current Provincial Court on September 17, 2025.