SASKATOON – A preliminary hearing has been set for a man arrested after police broke up a sophisticated organized crime drug network in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Twenty-six-year-old Ali Sarfraz’s matter was brought before Saskatoon Provincial Court Tuesday and a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for him to stand trial was scheduled for Oct. 11.
In July 2021, Sarfraz was 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.
The Saskatoon Integrated Crime Reduction Team and the Saskatoon Police Service Drug Unit, in partnership with the Calgary Police Service Guns and Gangs Unit concluded a nine-month inter-provincial joint investigation and made several arrests.
The organized crime network investigation into trafficking in cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl took place in Saskatoon and Calgary over a six-week period in the spring of 2021.
The project was dubbed Project Octane in Saskatoon and included partners within the Saskatoon Police Service and the RCMP F Division.
Five search warrants were issued in Saskatoon on April 8, 2021, in Project Octane at residences in the 100 block of Fast Crescent, the 200 block of Willis Crescent, the 1100 block of College Drive, the 300 block of 5th Avenue North, and a hotel room in the 400 block of 2nd Avenue South.
Police 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.
During the investigation, Calgary Police executed 23 search warrants in Alberta between April of 2020 and May 2021. This resulted in 73 charges being laid against nine people, in a time period leading up to November 2021.
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