Three-month probe resulted in the seizure of 1.5 kilograms of processed fentanyl, plus enough pure fentanyl to make 3-5 kg more, police say.
1.5 kilograms of processed fentanyl seized, plus enough pure powder to make 3-5 kg more
Aliyah Marko-Omene · CBC News
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Regina police have charged three people with fentanyl production and drug trafficking after a three-month investigation.
In a Wednesday news release, police said the investigation began in May and focused on a group of people from Regina and British Columbia.
A search warrant was executed on Monday at a home in the 3800 block of East Cormorant Drive, where officers found approximately 1.5 kilograms of processed fentanyl along with more than 80 grams of pure fentanyl and large quantities of caffeine powder and other substances used in the manufacturing of fentanyl for street distribution, the release said.
Another three to five kilograms of street drugs could have been made from the 80 grams of pure fentanyl, it said.
Evan Silzer, 33, of Regina and Matthew Yohana, 20, of Richmound, B.C. face charges including production of a controlled substance, trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession of proceeds of crime. Both made their first court appearance in Regina on Tuesday.
A Canada-wide arrest warrant has also been issued for Cassidy Arsenault, 20, of Burnaby, B.C. on charges that include transporting a substance intending it will be used to produce a controlled substance, two counts of trafficking a controlled substance and two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl.
"This is the first time where we've seen that this actual, usable product is produced here," Supt. Kelly Trithart said at a news conference.
He said this is the first time fentanyl production charges have been laid in Regina.
"That's kind of the difference, where we're having drugs that are being transported here and supplied to Regina versus now we have a raw product that came to Regina," Trithart said.
Trithart said the investigation is ongoing and could lead to more charges.
In the meantime, he hopes the arrests send a message to others that it's "unacceptable to do those kind of criminal acts here," he said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aliyah Marko-Omene is a reporter for CBC Saskatchewan. She has previously worked for CBC and Toronto Star in Toronto. You can reach her at aliyah.marko@cbc.ca.
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