45 15St W, Prince Albert SK S6V3P4
Emergency: 
File 2023-9104
Four people have been arrested and a warrant issued for a fifth person, after an investigation by the Prince Albert Police Service’s Crime Reduction Team resulted in the largest-ever seizure of cocaine in PAPS history.
Members with the Prince Albert Crime Reduction Team have concluded a multi-week investigation after learning of an operation in which cocaine was being trafficked. On March 16, 2023, the Crime Reduction Team, with support from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Prince Albert Detachment, executed a search warrant on a property located in a trailer court north of Prince Albert.
As a result of the enforcement action taken the following was seized:
- 31,200 grams (31.2 kilograms) of Cocaine
- $55,000 in Canadian Currency
- Cocaine cutting agent
- Gun parts & Ammunition
- Paraphernalia consistent with a large-scale drug trafficking operation
As a result of the investigation the following individuals have been charged on a joint Information [Information 90480257]
- Gordon Greer-Vandale, age 30, of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, has been charged with Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000, Possession of Prohibited Ammunition, and Breach of Conditional Sentence Order.
- Spencer Evans, age 27, of North Battleford, Saskatchewan, has been charged with Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000, and Possession of Prohibited Ammunition.
- Santana Foulds, age 28, of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, has been charged with Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000, and Possession of Prohibited Ammunition.
- Jim Lakatos, age 34, of North Battleford, Saskatchewan, has been charged with Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000, Possession of Prohibited Ammunition, and Breach of Probation.
- A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Dean Marchand, age 31, of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, for Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000, and Possession of Prohibited Ammunition.
The Prince Albert Police Service’s Crime Reduction Team is one of several teams funded by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Corrections, Policing, and Public Safety and has seven police members and one civilian analyst working to proactively investigate street gangs with a focus on illicit drug trafficking and possession of illegal firearms.
“Provincially-funded Crime Reduction Teams (CRT) help keep Saskatchewan communities safe, and are a critical addition to our evolving suite of policing tools,” Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Christine Tell said. “We are proud to support the investigative work that was done here to disrupt organized crime in Prince Albert and remove harmful narcotics from the streets.”
Jonathan Bergen, Chief of Police for the Prince Albert Police Service, said the investigation and seizure helps support public safety in our community and surrounding areas. The second-largest seizure of cocaine by members with the Prince Albert Police Service was just over 11 kilograms.
“Much of the suffering and pain we see in many communities is tied to addictions, and drug trafficking affects everyone,” Chief Bergen said. “When you think of what has been prevented with this seizure, I’m just so impressed with the work of our Crime Reduction Team and our partner teams within the Prince Albert Police Service, including the Proactive Policing Unit, Forensic Identification Unit, and our Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team, who supported this investigation. We recognize that many are suffering from addictions, and taking these drugs off our streets means less access and less harm.”
The Prince Albert Police Service Crime Reduction Team would like to acknowledge the Prince Albert Police Service’s Proactive Policing Unit, Prince Albert Police Service’s Forensic Identification Unit, Prince Albert Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team, Saskatoon Police Service and the Regina Police Service for their assistance on this investigation.
Additional charges may be laid as the investigation continues.
