Sask. RCMP, municipal police report hundreds of arrests, seizures in second half of 2024

The RCMP F Division is shown in this file image (Cole Davenport / CTV News Regina)

The Government of Saskatchewan is continuing to highlight the successes of its specialized policing teams across both its municipal services and the RCMP.

From July 1 to Dec. 31, municipal Crime Reduction Teams (CRT) and the Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team (STRT) were responsible for the seizure of 67 guns, 23 kilograms of methamphetamine and 2.5 kilogram of fentanyl.

Police also charged 89 people with a total of 475 criminal charges.

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There are currently three CRT and STRT teams operating out of Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina. The units are dedicated to targeting street gangs and prolific offenders – while also responding to urban and rural crime surges if needed.

The provincial RCMP also operates its provincially funded Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Teams (SERT) – which include the service’s CRTs, its Warrant and Suppression Team (WEST) along with the STRT.

Over the same period, SERT executed 385 arrest warrants and seized over 11.4 kilograms of illicit drugs, 144 firearms and more than $286,000 in cash.

The STRT is a specialized, intelligence-led enforcement team that investigates weapons, drug and human trafficking cases. From July to December, the team opened 17 human trafficking files, executed 37 search warrants, made 31 arrests, seized over 651,000 packs of tobacco, more than 900 grams of cocaine and laid 81 charges.

The CRT responds to crime surges in rural areas while targeting prolific offenders and street gangs in the province, according to the RCMP. From July through December, the CRT executed 288 arrest warrants, laid over 400 charges, seized more than 8.6 kilograms of illicit drugs and made 352 arrests.

Finally, the RCMP’s WEST targets high-profile offenders who are deemed a significant threat to public safety, such as gang members and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

One WEST unit operates out of Saskatoon and Meadow Lake while another is based out of Prince Albert.

From July to December, WEST executed 97 arrest warrants and made 82 arrests.