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Several police forces team up to arrest two, seize large quantity of drugs

April 29, 2021 – Several police forces teamed up to arrest two people and seize a significant amount of methamphetamine, Fentanyl and cocaine.

“The amount of drugs seized represents around 4,068 individual sales of Methamphetamine, 992 individual sales of cocaine and about 3,062 potential street levels sales of Fentanyl,” said RCMP Sgt. Kory Davidsen, from the Saskatoon Integrated Crime Reduction Team (S-ICRT).

“We expect that this seizure of drugs will have a significant impact on the communities surrounding Melfort, Tisdale and the cities of Prince Albert and Saskatoon.”

Rudi Betthel, 53, of Bjorkdale, and Tricia Karpluk, 39, from Saskatoon, were arrested following a traffic stop near Saskatoon on Highway 7 near Township Road 340 on April 26.

According to police, Betthel had a significant amount of controlled substances in the vehicle. Police obtained a search warrant for his residence on the 100 block of Hara Avenue in Bjorkdale where they seized firearms, methamphetamine, ketamine, hydromorphone, and additional drug paraphernalia.

Police also obtained a search warrant for a home on the 300 block of Avenue N south in Saskatoon. There they seized more controlled substances, firearms and weapons.

Betthel was charged with five counts of trafficking drugs, five counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, and five counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

Karpluk was charged with trafficking drugs, possession of proceeds obtained by crime, possession of proceeds obtained by crime under $5,000, possess a weapon for a dangerous purpose, store a firearm in a careless manner, and possess a firearm knowing the serial number has been removed.

Betthel and Karpluk appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court today.

The investigation included the combined joint efforts of investigative teams and support units, which include the Saskatoon Integrated Crime Reduction Team, RCMP Prince Albert Gang Task Force, Melfort and Tisdale RCMP Detachments, Saskatoon Air Support Unit, RCMP Special “I” Section, Saskatoon Special Investigations Unit, Regina Special “O”, Saskatoon Tactical Support Unit and the RCMP Emergency Response Team.

“The effectiveness of the collaboration of RCMP teams and units working in conjunction with the Saskatoon Police Service demonstrates how working together will produce excellent results,” said Sgt. Davidsen.

The Saskatoon Integrated Crime Reduction Team (S-ICRT) is a province wide integrated policing task force funded by the Government of Saskatchewan through the Ministry of Justice, Corrections and Policing. S-ICRT is a combined investigative body comprised of personnel from partner agencies from the Saskatoon Police Service and the Saskatchewan RCMP with a common mandate to disrupt, curtail and reduce criminal activity within the Province of Saskatchewan.