BATTLEFORD – The trial is continuing this week for two accused arrested with $4 million worth of drugs as part of an organized crime investigation.
Sahilpreet Grewal, 19, and Parminder Singh, 20, both of Edmonton, appeared in the Court of King's Bench in Battleford on June 10.
Grewal is currently out of custody, while Singh remains in custody. Both men have previously pleaded not guilty in the case.
Police previously reported the Saskatchewan RCMP Roving Traffic Unit out of Maidstone had conducted a traffic stop on Highway 16 near Maidstone on June 1, 2023, as part of the ongoing complex investigation by the Alberta RCMP Serious and Organized Crime Unit.
Saskatchewan RCMP nabbed the vehicle as it was headed west. During a search, officers found 90 kilograms of methamphetamine and 65 kilograms of cocaine. The methamphetamine was tested and had purity levels as high as 100 per cent. The cocaine seized was tested and resulted in purity levels as high as 86 per cent.
Grewal and Singh were both charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Justice J.P. Morrall is presiding in the judge-alone trial.
At court on Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Kirsten Janis and Defence attorney Brian Beresh examined RCMP officer Constable Kyle Castelin, who was one of the two officers on the scene when the two accused were arrested.
During his testimony, Castelin confirmed the amount of drugs seized – 90 kilograms of methamphetamine and 65 kilograms of cocaine – that were found in duffel bags in the suspect vehicle at the time when the vehicle was searched at the Maidstone RCMP detachment.
Beresh took some time questioning the officer's handwritten notes from what's known as a Summary Occurrence Report related to the arrest, as they were written about a couple of hours after the incident.
The trial is continuing this week.
– With files from Lisa Joy.
