Items seized by investigators: (left to right) 10 kilograms of cocaine; six litres of GHB in plastic bottles; and a large quantity of Canadian currency, a restricted firearm, and ammunition. (Submitted/RCMP)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Four people charged

Large drug seizure in Maidstone area traffic stops

Jun 15, 2023 | 1:03 PM

Four people are facing drug-related charges following three RCMP traffic stops in the Maidstone area last month.

Partnering with the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol of the Provincial Protective Services (PPS) branch, the Saskatchewan RCMP Roving Traffic Unit (RTU) was able to take illicit drugs, a restricted firearm, and a large quantity of cash.

In the afternoon of May 3, the Saskatchewan RCMP RTU conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with one occupant.

After investigating, police seized about 10 kilograms of cocaine. The cocaine seized has been tested and resulted in purity levels as high as 98 per cent.

Police say this seizure will “disrupt the supply of illicit, lethal drugs destined for distribution across Canada, particularly Saskatchewan.”

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John Morin, 32, of Edmonton is charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. He’s scheduled to appear in Lloydminster Provincial Court on June 26.

In a separate incident, on the morning of May 30, the Saskatchewan RCMP RTU and Saskatchewan Highway Patrol of the PPS branch conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with two occupants.

After searching the vehicle, police seized about six litres of Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), which would have worked out to about 1,200 individual doses on the streets. A small amount of cocaine and methamphetamine was also found and seized.

Warren Stricker, 40, of Langham, is charged with possession of GHB for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of cocaine.

Quinton Stricker, 42, of Saskatoon, is charged with possession of GHB for the purpose of trafficking, possession of cocaine, and possession of methamphetamine.

Both individuals are scheduled to appear in Lloydminster Provincial Court on July 24.

In another incident, on the morning of May 31, the Saskatchewan RTU and Saskatchewan Highway Patrol of the PPS branch conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with one occupant.

Police say a large amount of bundled Canadian currency was seen in plain view.

After investigating, police found several more bundles of vacuum-sealed Canadian currency, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. Police also located a restricted firearm, with two magazines that both contained ammunition and a large amount of methamphetamine.

Mohamed Ilmi, 46, of Edmonton, is charged with carrying a concealed weapon, unauthorized possession of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a prohibited device, being the occupant in a vehicle knowing there is a firearm in it, possessing a restricted firearm with readily accessible ammunition, possessing a restricted firearm while prohibited from doing so, unauthorized possession of a prohibited device, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000, laundering the proceeds of crime, and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking.

Ilmi is scheduled to appear in Lloydminster Provincial Court on July 10.

“I am incredibly proud of the work that is being done across the province by our officers and partners at Saskatchewan Highway Patrol. By taking all of these illicit items off the road and out of criminals’ hands, it demonstrates our commitment to keeping the public out of harm’s way,” said Supt. Grant St. Germaine, the Officer in Charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

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