Saskatchewan RCMP and other law enforcement partners have seized thousands of grams of drugs and hundreds of thousands of dollars in a major drug bust that involved numerous law enforcement agencies.
In October 2020, the provincial RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit (FSOC) in Regina began an investigation into a sophisticated crime group distributing large quantities of drugs to numerous communities across Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan communities affected included larger centres such as Regina, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw and smaller communities such as Assiniboia, Marquis, Mossbank, Caronport, Hudson Bay Limerick, Craven and Lloydminster.
As part of the extensive investigation, officers dedicated more than 7,000 hours to surveillance in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan; executed over 60 judicial authorizations; criminally charged seven individuals; and seized a significant amount of illicit drugs and currency.
These seizures included:
- 397.5 grams of cocaine and 2.97 kilograms of methamphetamine near Chamberlain
- 452.7 grams of cocaine in Fort McMurray, Alta.
- 1,540 grams of Meclonazepam (about 5,000 fake Xanax pills) in Edmonton
- A subsequent search warrant was executed at another location in Edmonton, which found an extra 7,662.21 grams of Meclonazepam (about 25,000 fake Xanax pills), 40.01 grams of cocaine, 659.49 grams of psilocybin (mushrooms), 39.54 grams of MDMA and $123,652 in Canadian currency
Police have laid 70 criminal charges in this investigation, including conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance, trafficking in a controlled substance and property obtained by crime.
The accused include Travis Ferko of Edmonton, Cody Klemola of Edmonton, Matteo Cimino of St. Albert, Alta., Jennifer Tabunar of Edmonton, Joel Gladue of Edmonton, and Cong Su of Vaughn, Ont. They will make their first appearances in Regina Provincial Court on Tuesday, June 21.
Police continue to look for 48-year-old Michael Bagan of Edmonton with this ongoing investigation. The latest description police have of Bagan is that he is 6-1 in height, about 216 lbs, and has blue eyes and brown hair. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
“The negative impact this group had on people in Saskatchewan and Alberta is immeasurable. These types of groups profit by poisoning our people and our communities — both in big cities and small towns. We're really pleased to have taken these harmful substances out of our communities,” said Inspector Andrew Farquhar of the RCMP's Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit in Regina.
The complexity and scope of this investigation required assistance from several federal, provincial and municipal law enforcement agencies across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario.
Assisting agencies included the Regina Integrated Intelligence Unit, Saskatoon FSOC, Saskatchewan RCMP Crime Analysis Section, Regina Police Service, Moose Jaw Police Service, Moose Jaw RCMP, Lumsden RCMP, Weyburn Police Service, Estevan RCMP, Assiniboia RCMP, Edmonton FSOC, Strathcona County RCMP, and Edmonton Integrated Border Enforcement Team.
Other support also came from Edmonton Police Service Gang Suppression Team, Edmonton ALERT, Fort McMurray ALERT, Lloydminster ALERT, Red Deer General Investigation Section, Toronto FSOC, Cold Lake General Investigation Section, Public Prosecution Service of Canada (in Saskatchewan and Alberta), the Canadian Border Services Agency, FINTRAC, and other specialized RCMP units and personnel.
Anyone with information about Michael Bagan is asked to contact their local police service, RCMP Detachment or the Saskatchewan RCMP at 310-RCMP. Information can also be submitted anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
