Saskatchewan RCMP’s provincially funded Enforcement Response Teams (SERTs) have made significant strides in tackling crime and enhancing public safety across the province.
Between July and December 2024, the specialized units executed 385 arrest warrants, confiscated 144 firearms, seized over 11.4 kilograms of illicit drugs, and removed more than $286,000 in cash linked to criminal activities.
Corrections, Policing, and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod praised the teams for their relentless efforts in combating crime and improving safety.
“Our partnership with the RCMP plays an important role in reducing crime across Saskatchewan and promoting community safety,” McLeod said.
“These teams tackle a wide range of critical issues, and we are proud of their accomplishments. The province will continue to work collaboratively with our policing partners to ensure the continued safety and security of Saskatchewan residents.”
SERT operates through three specialized units: the Crime Reduction Teams (CRTs), Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team (WEST), and the Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team (STRT). Each team targets different aspects of crime, from drug trafficking to violent offenders.
RCMP Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore highlighted the impact of SERT’s intelligence-led policing strategies.
“These investigational successes demonstrate how SERT and local RCMP detachments work together as the provincial police force to enhance community safety across Saskatchewan,” Blackmore said.
“As a highly skilled and specialized unit, SERT’s enforcement-based policing initiatives continue to combat dangerous crime and violent gang activity in the province. We will continue to help make Saskatchewan a safer place for all those who call it home.”
The Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team (STRT) was particularly active in the latter half of 2024, executing 37 search warrants, making 31 arrests, and laying 81 charges related to weapons, drugs, and human trafficking. Among its major seizures was one of the largest tobacco busts in the province’s history.
In July 2024, a Saskatchewan Highway Patrol (SHP) officer stopped a semi-truck near Swift Current and found documentation discrepancies. Upon further investigation, authorities discovered approximately 8.75 million unstamped cigarettes—equivalent to 30 pallets—inside the trailer. STRT took over the case, working with Swift Current Rural RCMP to investigate the massive illicit shipment.
Additionally, the unit seized more than 900 grams of cocaine and disrupted multiple human trafficking operations, opening 17 new cases within the six-month period.
RCMP Crime Reduction Teams (CRTs) continued their efforts to suppress gang activity and repeat offenders in rural Saskatchewan. Between July and December, CRT executed 288 arrest warrants, filed over 400 charges, and seized 8.6 kilograms of illicit drugs while making 352 arrests.
One significant case in October saw the North Battleford RCMP CRT-Gang Task Force execute search warrants at two residences as part of a drug trafficking investigation. Officers confiscated a loaded handgun, a rifle, 81 grams of methamphetamine, 58 grams of crack cocaine, cash, ammunition, and other drug paraphernalia. Three individuals were arrested, with two facing drug trafficking charges.
The Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team (WEST) focused on apprehending high-profile, violent offenders, including gang members. Operating out of Saskatoon, Meadow Lake, and Prince Albert, WEST executed 97 arrest warrants and made 82 arrests in the six-month period.
The RCMP’s ongoing crime suppression efforts through SERT demonstrate the province’s commitment to tackling organized crime, gang activity, and high-risk offenders. With continued collaboration between law enforcement and the government, Saskatchewan residents can expect continued efforts to ensure safer communities.
