Three people are facing charges after drones were allegedly used to deliver drugs to inmates at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert.
According to the Saskatchewan RCMP, the first of the two cases began early this month, when police got a report of a potential delivery of drugs to the penitentiary using a drone. Officers later executed a search warrant at a home in Laird in connection with the investigation, where they seized 172 grams of methamphetamine, 112 grams of cannabis concentrate, a drone, a laptop and cell phones.
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A 36-year-old woman from Laird was charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking. She’s expected to appear in court in Rosthern next month.
The second case began on July 13, when Mounties got a report saying “a drone, originating from a vehicle, had dropped a package within the grounds of the Saskatchewan Penitentiary.”
The RCMP said officers caught up with the suspect’s vehicle on Lincoln Park Road, and arrested a man and a woman.
“Following further investigation, officers recovered a second drone that had crashed near the penitentiary and a package that had been dropped within the grounds,” the RCMP explained in a statement.
“Officers seized approximately 60 grams of methamphetamine and 30 grams of cannabis concentrate.”
As a result, the 31-year-old woman from Garson Lake and the 38-year-old man from Biggar were each charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, operating a remotely piloted aircraft system without a valid pilot certificate, operating a remotely piloted aircraft system in controlled airspace without authorization, and operating a remotely piloted aircraft system “over the security perimeter of an emergency operation without authorization.”
Both suspects in the second case appeared in court in Prince Albert on July 15, the RCMP said.
“Saskatchewan RCMP ensured these harmful drugs couldn’t enter a federal institution – where they’re just as dangerous as they are on the street,” RCMP staff sergeant Éric Desfossés said in a news release.
“These investigations are great examples of how specialized units and frontline RCMP officers are working side-by-side to combat drug trafficking, wherever and however it’s occurring.”