Police seize $50,000 of fentanyl, stop drug shipment headed for city

Co-operation between organized crime units from Saskatchewan and Alberta resulted in the seizure of an estimated $50,000 worth of fentanyl and other drugs.

Police seized 500 fentanyl pills, 20 grams of suspected fentanyl/ heroin mix and a firearm with a defaced serial number.

The month-long investigation, which included enforcement efforts in Regina, resulted in the arrest of 36-year-old Calvin Turcsanyi on April 7. Three search warrants were executed with the assistance of the Edmonton Police Service.

At the same time as the arrest, investigators intercepted a shipment of fentanyl and ecstasy bound for Regina. A courier vehicle was stopped in Lloydminster with the assistance of Lloydminster RCMP.

Turcsanyi has been charged with three counts of trafficking a controlled substance, three counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purposes of trafficking, five firearms offences and five counts of breach of recognizance.

Crystal Nash, 38, has been charged with four firearms offences.

Both are scheduled to appear in court in Edmonton.

The joint investigation involving Saskatchewan’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) and Edmonton’s Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) was intended to stem the flow of fentanyl between the two provinces, according to a media release.

Saskatchewan CFSEU is a provincewide integrated policing task force formed to investigate existing and emerging organized criminal groups.

ALERT is made up of members of Alberta Sheriffs, Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service, Medicine Hat Police Service and the RCMP.