In March of 2021, the Saskatoon Integrated Crime Reduction Team (S-ICRT), the RCMP Prince Albert Gang Task Force, the Melfort and Tisdale RCMP Detachments joined forces and learned of information about the presence of large quantities of drugs in the area. A project was established based on information gathered by the RCMP, the Prince Albert Gang Task Force, Saskatoon Police Service Drug Unit, Saskatoon Police Service Patrol members, Saskatoon Integrated Crime Reduction Team and Crime Stoppers.
The Saskatoon Integrated Crime Reduction Team (S-ICRT) is a province wide integrated policing task force funded by the Government of Saskatchewan through the Ministries of Justice and Attorney General and Corrections, and Policing and Public Safety. S-ICRT is a combined investigative body comprised of personnel from partner agencies from the Saskatoon Police Service and the Saskatchewan RCMP with a common mandate to disrupt, curtail and reduce criminal activity within the Province of Saskatchewan.
On April 26, 2021 the Saskatoon Police Service Tactical Support Unit effected a vehicle stop (under the investigative team's direction) outside of Saskatoon on Highway 7 near Township Rd 340. The driver, a male was found to be in possession of a significant amount of illicit and controlled substances.
The male, a Rudi Betthel of Bjorkdale was found to be in possession of significant quantities of methamphetamine, Fentanyl, cocaine and related drug paraphernalia.
Following the vehicle stop, a search warrant was executed at a residence on the 100 block of Hara Avenue in Bjorkdale.
Seized from the residence were firearms, methamphetamine, ketamine, hydromorphone and additional drug paraphernalia.
Rudi Betthel from Bjorkdale is charged with:
- 5 counts, Trafficking Section 5(1), Controlled Substance and Drug Act
- 5 counts, Possession for the Purpose to Trafficking Section 5(2) Controlled Substance and Drug Act
- 5 counts, Possess a Weapon for a Dangerous Purposes, Section 88, Criminal Code
- Investigators also executed a search warrant at a residence on the 300 block of Avenue N south in Saskatoon.
Seized from the residence were illicit and controlled substances as well as a firearm and weapons dangerous to the public.
Tricia Karpluk from Saskatoon is charged with:
- 1 count, Trafficking in a controlled substance, Section 5(1), Controlled Substance and Drug Act
- 1 count, Possession of Proceeds obtained by crime, Section 354(1), Criminal Code
- 1 count, Possession of Proceeds obtained by crime under $5,000, Section 355(b), Criminal Code
- 1 count, Possess a Weapon for a Dangerous Purposes, Section 88, Criminal Code
- 1 count, Store a Firearm in a Careless Manner, Section 86(1), Criminal Code
- 1 count, possess a Firearm knowing the derail number has been removed, Section 108(1), Criminal Code
Both Rudi Betthel and Tricia Karpluck appeared in court today (on April 28, 2021) in Saskatoon.
The investigation included the combined joint efforts of investigative teams and support units which include the Saskatoon Integrated Crime Reduction Team, RCMP Prince Albert Gang Task Force, Melfort and Tisdale RCMP Detachments, Saskatoon Air Support Unit, RCMP Special "I" Section, Saskatoon Special Investigations Unit, Regina Special "O", Saskatoon Tactical Support Unit and the RCMP Emergency Response Team.
RCMP Sgt. Kory Davidsen, from the Saskatoon ICRT, said. "The amount of drugs seized represents around 4068 individual sales of Methamphetamine, 992 individual sales of cocaine and about 3062 potential street levels sales of Fentanyl. We expect that this seizure of drugs will have a significant impact on the communities surrounding Melfort, Tisdale and the Cities of Prince Albert and Saskatoon."
He added, "The effectiveness of the collaboration of RCMP teams and units working in conjunction with the Saskatoon Police Service demonstrates how working together will produce excellent results".