Police seize arrest prominent members of the Hells Angels and Fallen Saints bike gangs
When one thinks of large-scale drug busts and rampant gang activity, the quaint city of Saskatoon is far from the first place that comes to mind. Most famous for being the Canadian city with the greatest number of Tim Hortons per capita, Saskatoon is the kind of place where, to quote the beloved Canadian sitcom Corner Gas, “There’s not a lot going on.”
On Wednesday, Jan. 14, however, police forces across Saskatchewan seized a large amount of guns and drugs in this very city in what is being called one of the most important and wide-ranging sting operations in Saskatchewan’s history. The 15-month long operation, dubbed Project Forseti as homage to the Norse god of justice, culminated on Jan. 14 with the arrests of 14 prominent gang members, including two full-patch Hells Angels members and the president of the Fallen Saints motorcycle club, Mark Nowakowski. The charges for those arrested include drug trafficking, weapons, assault, and proceeds of crime. Police have said more charges and arrests are to be expected.
According to Detective Inspector Jerome Engele of the Saskatoon Police, the bikers originally began their business in Saskatchewan because of the booming economy in the prairies seen during the last couple of years, which created a lucrative market for drug dealers in cities such as Saskatoon.
“They’re using illegal drugs, they’re using cocaine” said Engele. “These are some of our so-called better businessmen. They are aiding this crime by buying the product.” The Fallen Saints, said to have been formed in the summer of 2013, is one such gang to take advantage of the market.
The drugs seized included methamphetamine, cocaine, counterfeit oxycontin, hashish, and heroin – which, according to the police, are uncommon finds in idyllic Saskatoon. Also among the seizures were more than 3350 fentanyl pills, which police say have “the same chemical composition” as those responsible for the three recent overdose deaths in the city.
The combined value of the seized narcotics is said to be over eight million dollars. Police also seized about 200 firearms, both prohibited and restricted, on top of raiding and searching nine residences and two commercial properties in and around the Saskatoon area. Seven vehicles were seized and impounded as well, along with approximately $100,000 in cash.
Engele did not go into details about the investigation, which first started in November of 2013. Engele did say, however, that informants, surveillance, and tracking devices were some of the tactics used by the Saskatchewan police during the operation. All those arrested and charged will appear in court before the end of January.