Drugs, guns on the rise: 60 arrested after joint Regina police, RCMP investigation

A joint police effort in Regina has resulted in dozens of people being arrested and hundreds of charges laid, largely over drug- and weapons-related offences.

It turns out the Queen City has attracted many visitors over the last several months, but not the kind TourismSaskatchewan would brag about.

"They are coming here for one specific reason and it's for the sale of illicit drugs," said Insp. Darcy Koch of the Regina Police Service.

He added that Regina's market likely doesn't have a lot of competition for them as "they're able to come in and make a lot of money quickly."

But police recently put a dent in those profits. On Tuesday, Regina police and the RCMP announced that through their combined efforts, 60 people have been arrested and 443 charges have been laid over the last 90 days. The charges range from drug trafficking topossession of stolen property and multiple weapons offences.

Policewould not confirm where all theindividuals arrested came from, only to say some were from Edmonton and Ontario.

Increasing drug, firearm issues

Koch said since 2013Regina police have observed an increase in cocaine andmethamphetaminetraffic in the city, as well an increase in violent and firearm-related offences.

• Regina police dealing with 'substantial' increase in gun-related crime

"Our information has led us to confirm that one of the main factors for these increases are directly related to individuals working in loose association with each other and come into the City of Regina to capitalize on the drug trade," he said.

"We found the disruption of one of these groups is quickly filled with another group and the cycle continues."

Koch added thatsome of these individuals may be connected to two active homicide investigations in Regina as well as anincident last August when a man was shot in a crowded restaurant.

Big seizure

Insp. Rob Thorarinson, officer in charge of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit for Saskatchewan, said in the course of their investigation police seized:

• 1,700 grams of cocaine.
• 600 grams of methamphetamine.
• 200 grams of marijuana.

They also seized smaller amounts of MDMA or ecstasy and heroin.

Also seized were:

• $40,000 in stolen property.
• 11 firearms: fivelong guns (sawed off) and sixhandguns.
• Over $100,000.