Crown Seizes Large Amount Of Criminal Cash

There’s an old saying that crime doesn’t pay, but it certainly did for the Crown as a result of a commercial vehicle inspection.

A traffic inspection of a semi trick by the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol that resulted in almost $1 million forfeited to the Crown.

On September 1, 2022 the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol stopped an East bound semi on the outskirts of Regina.

During the inspection the officers noted commercial vehicle violations and missing documentation.

As a result of the inspection, the truck was searched and a large amount of cash was found in two duffle bags and a black canvas shopping bag.

SOME OF THE CASH SEIZED - SASKATCHEWAN RCMP PHOTO

The cash was in vacuum, sealed packages in a way consistent with organized crime.

The highway traffic officers seized the cash and requested assistance from the White Butte RCMP.

Initially the two occupants of the semi were held, but later released without charges.

The RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime (FSOC) Saskatchewan were engaged and took carriage of the investigation.

The total amount of proceeds forfeited to police in the traffic inspection was $897,540 in Canadian currency.

RCMP FSOC Saskatchewan continued to work in collaboration with Saskatchewan Highway Safety Patrol, White Butte RCMP and the Regina Integrated Intelligence Unit.

Over the coming months, officers initiated an investigation into the proceeds seized, which included conducting background checks, drafting judicial authorizations, and examining evidence collected from the scene.

RCMP FSOC Saskatchewan worked in consultation with the Saskatoon RCMP General Investigation Section (GIS), Public Prosecution Service Canada, and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice and Office of the Attorney General, and determined the proceeds should be referred to the Province's Civil Forfeiture process.

On March 30, 2023, the Provincial Crown applied for civil forfeiture and the Regina King's Bench Court deemed the proceeds were the result of unlawful activity and ordered the money be forfeited to the Crown.

The investigation into the proceeds forfeited and seized is now concluded. As such, there is no further information to provide, the release state.d.