After a $4 million drug bust in Saskatchewan, a second trial is set to take place as police used a suspect’s cellphone to track methamphetamine shipments entering Western Canada from the U.S.
Parminder Singh, 23, and Sahilpreet Grewal, 22, were previously cleared of charges due to a violation of their Charter rights during a vehicle search, leading to the exclusion of 90 kilograms of meth and 65 kg of cocaine found near Maidstone, Sask. However, following an appeal by the Crown, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal reversed the acquittal, ordering a new trial.
The court found that the initial judge had erred in determining the legality of the arrests and subsequent vehicle search. The investigation stemmed from two drug seizures at the Coutts, Alta. border earlier in 2023, leading to the initiation of Project Intuitive.
The suspects’ involvement was suspected after their vehicle’s movements were tracked, showing suspicious activity between Edmonton and Winnipeg. Subsequent observations during a traffic stop near Maidstone, such as nervous behavior, inconsistent statements, and attempts to conceal items in the vehicle, raised suspicions.
The arresting officer believed the suspects were trafficking drugs, leading to their arrest and the discovery of meth and cocaine in the vehicle. The court ruled that the arrests were lawful, emphasizing the importance of the “objectively reasonable” test in such cases.
Justice Kalmakoff emphasized the significance of the excluded drug evidence in potentially altering the trial outcome and ordered a fresh trial to proceed.