SASKATOON – Four men accused of trafficking drugs for a criminal organization are headed to trial. A date will be set following case management.
Rajandeer Singh, 29, Andrew Karamat, 24, Japjee Minhas, 21, and Ali Sarfraz, 27, were arrested last year after police in Saskatchewan and Alberta busted a sophisticated organized crime drug network. Gurkeert Hehar, 22, is back in court Nov. 2.
The six had appearances in Saskatoon Provincial Court on Tuesday and they were committed to stand trial in Saskatoon Court of King’s Bench. The charges against the accused haven’t been tested in court.
Singh, Karamat, Hehar, Minhas, and Sarfraz were charged with conspiracy to commit trafficking of methamphetamine and cocaine, trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine, possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine, possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000 and commission of an offence for the benefit of a criminal organization.
Minhas was additionally charged with directing an offence for a criminal organization.
The charge against Rachel Kidd, 29, of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine was stayed.
They were charged after Saskatoon Police raided five homes in the city on April 8, 2021, and seized $226,600 cash, 4,177.96 grams of cocaine, 166.99 grams of fentanyl, 67.06 grams of methamphetamine, 568.92 grams of marijuana, and six vehicles.
The nine-month inter-provincial joint investigation dubbed Project Octane involved the Saskatoon Integrated Crime Reduction Team, the Saskatoon Police Service Drug Unit, and the Calgary Police Service Guns and Gangs Unit. Calgary Police arrested nine people.
Story corrected to say that the charge against Rachel Kidd was stayed.
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