Staff Sergeant Jason Teniuk, acting commander of the North Battleford RCMP says, “A very significant amount of weapons and drugs have been removed from the street. We will not tolerate the trafficking of guns and drugs in our community and will continue to proactively investigate and charge those who do so.”

This, in response to a six month long investigation by the Battleford RCMP Gang Task Force, the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Crime Reduction Team and the Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team, which has led to five men being charged.

Six search warrants were executed in the North Battleford Detachment last Friday. In total, police say they seized 839 grams of cocaine, along with just over 37 kilograms of illegal marijuana, seven firearms – including one reported stolen – as well as ammunition, drug trafficking paraphernalia and a large sum of cash.

Russell Ens, Matthew Kennedy, and Benjamin Lennie are charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking both cocaine and cannabis, and possession of property obtained by crime. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Chris Phillip, who is facing the same charges. Trevor Kennedy is charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm, and unsafe storage of a firearm.