By Taylor MacPherson

Police release more details on large cocaine bust

Nov 22, 2016 | 4:00 PM

Saskatchewan’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) arrested seven suspects and seized more than a kilogram of cocaine Nov. 20 after the culmination of a five-month investigation dubbed Project Kahuna.

The CFSEU is an integrated task force that brings together city police services and RCMP with a mandate to “expose, investigate, prosecute, dismantle and disrupt organized crime enterprises.”

Three CFSEU teams operate out of Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert, and are funded by the Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing.

After executing five search warrants in and around P.A., CFSEU officers seized 1,035 grams of cocaine along with roughly $30,000 in cash, 10 grams of marijuana, four vehicles, an ATV and numerous electronic devices. Police laid 32 charges against seven individuals, all of whom are accused of trafficking cocaine or conspiracy to traffic along with numerous other charges.

CFSEU officer-in-charge Rob Thorarinson of the RCMP said the investigation was an example of the success made possible by combining the resources and expertise of multiple police agencies.

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“CFSEU units are examples of investigative excellence in intelligence-led integrated policing,” Thorarinson said. “We are taking significant amounts of illicit drugs and firearms off the street.”

According to Thorarinson, the suspects arrested were allegedly involved in “a sophisticated drug distribution network” that was transporting cocaine from the Edmonton area to P.A. for distribution and sale. CFSEU, Thorarinson said, was created specifically to conduct high-level investigations against sophisticated targets such as these.

Thorarinson said the street value of the cocaine seized was likely more than $100,000, but noted there is still work to be done to combat illegal drug trafficking in Saskatchewan.

“We’re not suggesting that we’ve eradicated this issue in the City of Prince Albert and the surrounding areas,” Thorarinson said. “But this is a significant amount, and we’ve made a big impact on at least this group and their ability to import and distribute cocaine in the area.”

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

@TMacPhersonNews