Photo courtesy of Saskatchewan RCMP shows items seized during a May 14th traffic stop on Highway 1 west of Swift Current.
RCMP say four separate traffic stops on the Trans-Canada last week resulted in the seizure of illegal substances such as bootleg cannabis, edibles, fentanyl, cocaine, meth and Canadian cash.
The first incident took place on May 11th when an eastbound vehicle was stopped west of Swift Current to check for a drivers sobriety.
The driver and lone occupant of the vehicle was found to be in possession of contraband and unstamped tobacco.
When police searched the vehicle they also found six pounds of cannabis.
Forty-six-year-old Robert Glenn Smith has been charged with possession of cannabis for the purpose of illegal distribution and will make his first court appearance in September.
Then on May 13th, an eastbound vehicle was stopped again west of Swift Current for speeding.
The lone occupant of the vehicle was found to be in possession of a large amount of Canadian currency and was arrested for being in possession of proceeds of crime.
When police searched the vehicle they found and seized 34 pounds of cannabis, about 1,500 packs of cannabis edibles and more Canadian currency.
As a result 57-year-old Richard Scott Maloney from Peterborough Ontario was then charged with possession of cannabis for the purpose of illegal distribution, distributing illicit cannabis and possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000. Maloney will be in a Swift Current courtroom in September.
Later that afternoon police then stopped a westbound vehicle again west of Swift Current to check for a valid drivers license.
Both occupants of the vehicle were found to be in possession of a large amount of Canadian currency and were subsequently arrested for being in possession of the proceeds of crime.
A search of the vehicle incidental to the arrests made resulted in the seizure of over eight pounds of cannabis edibles, and a large amount of Canadian currency.
As a result 53-year-old Ivan Lee Knourek from Dunmore Alberta, and 54-year-old Shawn Allen La Fever from Ralston Alberta, were both charged with possession of cannabis for the purpose of illegal distribution, distributing illicit cannabis and possession of the proceeds of crime under $5,000. Both accused will be in court in Swift Current come September.
Finally on May 14th, an eastbound vehicle was again stopped west of Swift Current for a drivers license, vehicle registration and sobriety check. A man in the vehicle was on court conditions which included him agreeing to be searched by police. The two occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody for drug investigations. A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of ten grams of fentanyl, as well as quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine.
As a result 38-year-old David John Glen Pelley from Regina, and 30-year-old Alexis Helen McKay also from Regina, were charged with possession of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking, as well as numerous weapons and property related offences.
Police say Pelley also faces five additional charges for failing to comply with an undertaking. Both of the accused were remanded into custody and will be back in a Swift Current courtroom via telephone on May 25th.
