The provincial government is pleased with recent results from its numerous special policing teams, who've arrested high-profile offenders and taken drugs off the streets.
The Saskatchewan RCMP's specialised Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Teams have been working in the province, with their Crime Reduction Team (CRT), Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team (STRT), and Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team (WEST) all finding results.
From the beginning of the year in December 2023 through to just over halfway over the year on July 2024, RCMP SERT teams have seized a total of 128 firearms, over $196,000, more than 940 grams of methamphetamine, nearly 5,000 grams of cocaine, and over 456,000 packs of illegal tobacco.
"I am proud of the continued excellent work of the Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Team (SERT), who have removed 128 firearms and almost 12 kilograms of drugs from Saskatchewan communities in the first half of this year alone," Saskatchewan RCMP Commanding Officer Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore said. "They work seamlessly with our frontline police officers at detachments to help keep Saskatchewan communities safe."
The WEST team, which targets high-profile offenders such as violent offenders and gang members with outstanding warrants deeming them a threat to the public, have executed 3 search warrants and 96 arrest warrants, and 75 arrests were made by their team.
The CRT team, which specialized in working in rural areas for prolific offenders and street gangs, executed 156 search warrants. 269 arrest warrants. and made 365 arrests.
Over the course of their duties more than 4,300 grams of cocaine, 900 grams of methamphetamine, and 5,500 grams of various illicit drugs including psilocybin, MDMA, and illegal cannabis, were taken off the street.
The STRT, a specialized, intelligence-led enforcement team that investigates weapons, drug, and human trafficking cases, also saw some work over the half of the year.
The team opened 19 human trafficking files, executed 47 search warrants and 13 arrest warrants, and made 29 arrests. Over the months they seized more than 455,000 packs of tobacco and over 600 grams of cocaine, with 72 charges being laid.
"I want to thank the RCMP for their continued efforts to address gangs, illegal weapons and drugs, human trafficking and other acts of criminal activity in the province," said Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Paul Merriman. "Investments in SERT, and other specialized policing units allow officers to target these complex issues and improve overall community safety."