The Saskatchewan RCMp's Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Teams (SERT) have had a busy year, with statistics being released to the public summing up their work.
SERT, which is made up of the Crime Reduction Teams (CRT), the Human Trafficking and Counter Exploitation Unit (HTCEU), the Offender Management Unit (OMU), the Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Teams (STRT) and the Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Teams (WEST), is made up of 108 RCMP officers and 31 civilian support staff, with different teams located in 10 Saskatchewan communities
SERT's main targets include criminal groups and prolific offenders, especially violent ones who threaten the safety of southeast residents.
As a result of criminal investigations across the province last year, Saskatchewan RCMP’s SERT:
- made 827 arrests;
- executed 392 judicial authorizations and search warrants; and
- laid 1,015 Criminal Code and Controlled Drug and Substances Act charges in 2024.
That included an investigation conducted with the Prince Albert CRT which uncovered over 60 firearms, two crates of illegal cigarettes, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other drug paraphernalia.
“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 Inspector Jeff Smoliak, Saskatchewan RCMP's SERT Senior Investigative Officer.
“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.”
That work also extended across provincial borders and the boundaries of their jurisdiction, necessitating the cooperation of RCMP forces in other provinces.
Across 2024, they investigated 75 interprovincial files, including human trafficking, drug trafficking and firearms trafficking files.
“Criminals don’t respect jurisdictional borders – their activity impacts people throughout Saskatchewan and across Canada,” said Smoliak.
“Gang activity and crimes like human, drug, and firearms trafficking affect communities of all sizes, not just urban centres. Working in collaboration with other law enforcement and partner agencies extends the reach of our resources and allows Saskatchewan RCMP’s SERT to curb criminal activity that affects Saskatchewan communities.