SASKATOON – More charges have been laid in one of the largest drug busts in Saskatchewan history. Almost a year after police charged 21 individuals in the “Project Forseti” bust, seven of them are now facing criminal organization charges.
On Jan. 14, over 100 police officers raided at least 18 locations in Saskatchewan and Alberta, including the Hells Angels clubhouse in Saskatoon.
Police seized drugs with an estimated street value of $8-million, including methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl pills and heroin. Officers also seized over 200 weapons, including prohibited and restricted firearms, tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition and four ballistic vests.
READ MORE: Fake oxycontin seized in Saskatchewan, Alberta police raids
On Thursday, Mounties announced additional charges had been laid last week against the seven individuals for their alleged involvement in a criminal organization (a complete list of those charged is at the end of this story.)
“These charges are significant as they include individuals who are not only responsible for the activities of an organized crime group, but those who are actively recruiting new members to organized crime,” said Insp. Donovan Fisher, the officer in charge of integrated organized crime unit – north for Saskatchewan, which is made of RCMP members and Saskatoon police officers.
Fisher also said one person charged in January, Terry Eide of Calgary, pleaded guilty in Red Deer provincial court earlier this month.
“Evidence obtained through the use of police agents and intercepted communications built a strong case and lead to a guilty plea by Terry Eide on December 2, 2015,” said Fisher.
Eide pleaded guilty to trafficking large quantities of cocaine and to various weapons offences. He was sentenced to eight years in prison and given a lifetime weapons ban.
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Police launched Project Forseti in November 2013 to investigate organized crime in Saskatchewan.
Additional charges laid on Dec. 9, 2015 in the Project Forseti investigation:
Mark Nowakowski of Saskatoon
- Two counts of participation in a criminal organization
- Three counts of committing an offence for the benefit of a criminal organization
- Three counts of directing a criminal offence for the benefit of a criminal organization
- Recruitment to a criminal organization
- Conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and cocaine
- Trafficking fentanyl
- Possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking
- Conspiracy to possess proceeds of crime
Justin Smith of Saskatoon
- Three counts of committing an offence for the benefit of a criminal organization
- Two counts of participation in a criminal organization
- Recruitment to a criminal organization
- Assault
- Trafficking fentanyl
- Conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and cocaine
- Possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking
- Conspiracy to possess proceeds of crime
Ryan Hillman of Saskatoon
- Two counts of committing an offence for the benefit of a criminal organization
- Two counts of participation in a criminal organization
- Recruitment to a criminal organization
Armand Hounjet of Melfort, Sask.
- Commit an offence for the benefit of a criminal organization
- Participation in a criminal organization
- Recruitment to a criminal organization
Layne Boorman of Saskatoon
- Participation in a criminal organization
- Commit an offence for the benefit of a criminal organization
Carl Trobak of Saskatoon
- Participation in a criminal organization
- Commit an offence for the benefit of a criminal organization
- Assault
Daryl Nagy of Saskatoon
- Commit an offence for the benefit of a criminal organization
- Conspiracy to possess proceeds of crime
- Possession of proceeds of crime
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