In March 2019, the Saskatchewan RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit (FSOC) launched an interprovincial investigation into a group based in Saskatchewan that were involved in the distribution of illicit cannabis and tobacco products. FSOC was assisted throughout this investigation by federal, provincial, municipal and RCMP resources and agencies in British Columbia, Quebec and Saskatchewan.
The investigation showed illicit cannabis products from British Columbia were being purchased by individuals in Saskatchewan and then exchanged for illicit tobacco products from Quebec. As a result of the investigation, a substantial amount of illicit cannabis, illicit tobacco and Canadian currency was intercepted by the RCMP including:
- 69.3 lbs of cannabis
- 5152 g of shatter
- $573,735 in Canadian currency
- 2,856,500 cigarettes
Over the course of 17 months, FSOC used intelligence-based policing to conduct a thorough investigation utilizing various police techniques including over 50 searches of businesses, residences and vehicles for evidence.
The investigation resulted in eight people being arrested and one person being issued a summons. The nine individuals are facing a combined total of 64 charges for a variety of offences, some of which include Criminal Code Conspiracy offenses, Cannabis Act offenses, Excise Act offenses and Proceeds of Crime offenses including Possessing Property Obtained by Crime for the Purpose of Trafficking and Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime.
The following people have been charged in relation to the investigation:
- 35-year-old Dustin Zimmerman of Pense, Saskatchewan
- 35-year-old Jaroslaw Kanigoswki of Vancouver, British Columbia
- 39-year-old Joseph Johnson of Yale, British Columbia
- 36-year-old Justin Matychuk of Regina, SK
- 31-year-old Sara Cheeseman of Regina, SK
- 32-year-old Kyle Loubier of Regina, SK
- 37-year-old Louis Sebastian of Regina, SK
- 34-year-old Alicia Roberts of Regina, SK
- 36-year-old David Wilson of Regina, SK
The accused are all scheduled to make their first appearance in Provincial Court in Regina on September 10, 2020, at 9:30 a.m.
"Organized crime affects the daily lives of Canadians, financially and especially with their health and safety," said Inspector Andrew Farquhar, of the Saskatchewan RCMP's Federal, Serious and Organized Crime Unit. "We remain committed to using an intelligence-led, integrated approach in our investigations to reduce the demand for illicit products and the threat of organized crime."
FSOC works in conjunction with domestic and international partners to disrupt, dismantle and support prosecution of serious and organized crime groups and their members.