A new trial is set to take place regarding a $4 million drug bust in Saskatchewan. The police investigation was triggered by suspicions that a man was aiding in the transportation of methamphetamine across the U.S. border into Western Canada. Last year, Parminder Singh, 23, and Sahilpreet Grewal, 22, were cleared of charges due to a violation of their Charter rights during a vehicle search in Battleford Court of King’s Bench. The seizure of 90 kilograms of meth and 65 kg of cocaine during a traffic stop near Maidstone, Sask., on June 1, 2023, was deemed inadmissible as evidence, resulting in the Crown’s case being dismissed.
Following an appeal by the Crown, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal overturned the acquittal and ordered a retrial. The court ruled that the trial judge made errors in determining the grounds for the arrests and search of the accused individuals. The investigation stemmed from two drug seizures at the Coutts, Alta., border crossing earlier in 2023, leading to the launch of Project Intuitive by the RCMP’s Integrated Border Enforcement Team.
The suspects’ involvement was suspected after their cellphone movements were tracked, indicating potential connections to the intercepted drug shipments. The police conducted a traffic stop based on this information, leading to the discovery of high-purity methamphetamine and cocaine in the vehicle. Testimonies from officers revealed suspicions during the traffic stop, including the behavior of the suspects and items found in the vehicle. The decision to order a new trial was based on the belief that the original arrests were justified, and that a different outcome may have occurred if the drug evidence had been allowed in court.
