Lloydminster RCMP say a joint investigation has led to the arrest of two people and the seizure of firearms, drugs and more than $100,000 in stolen property.
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The RCMP Crime Reduction Team (CRT), part of the Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Teams (SERT), began investigating a man wanted on multiple warrants and suspected of drug trafficking in Neilburg, Sask., on Aug. 8.
On Sept. 11, officers with the CRT, assisted by the Lloydminster RCMP’s Saskatchewan Trafficking and Response Team (STRT), located the suspect outside a business on 13 Ave. in Wainwright, Alta. He and an adult woman who was with him were arrested.
Police executed a search warrant on a vehicle in the business’s parking lot, where they say they found a loaded 9mm carbine rifle, about two ounces of cocaine and other evidence linked to drug trafficking.
Later that day, officers executed a second search warrant at a rural Neilburg residence. With help from STRT, North Battleford RCMP Police Dog Services and Cut Knife RCMP, police seized an SKS carbine rifle, thousands of rounds of ammunition, evidence of drug trafficking and stolen property valued at more than $100,000.
The stolen property included four all-terrain vehicles, two side-by-sides, a snowmobile and an SUV. Investigators have identified the owners of about half of the items and are asking the public to help locate the rightful owners of the rest. Among the items still unclaimed are a green Polaris Arctic Cat snowmobile, a red-and-blue motocross-style ATV, a black motocross-style ATV and a green Honda quad.
As a result of the investigation, 32-year-old Brett Schnieder and 28-year-old Kendra Sylvestre, both from the RM of Manitou Lake, Sask., are facing numerous drug, firearm and property-related charges.
Schnieder faces additional charges of possessing firearms and ammunition contrary to a court order and failing to comply with a release order.
Both were taken to the Wainwright RCMP detachment following their arrest. Schnieder remains in custody in Alberta and is scheduled to appear in Wainwright provincial court on Oct. 16. He will also face Saskatchewan charges via CCTV. Sylvestre is scheduled to appear in court in Lloydminster, Alta., on Oct. 16, and in Lloydminster, Sask., on Oct. 20.
Staff Sgt. Kory Davidsen, acting senior investigative officer of SERT, said the case highlights the importance of cross-border policing.
“The strong collaboration and successful result of this investigation confirm that the Saskatchewan RCMP’s SERT in Lloydminster is strategically positioned and possesses the specialized expertise necessary to ensure that criminals in this area cannot exploit the border between Saskatchewan and Alberta to their advantage,” said Davidsen.
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Never gonna find the “rightful owners” of those because the rightful owners were arrested and one of them is now in remand while the other one (me) is facing the charges as well. Just because they found one thing stolen, they just assume the rest was stolen when they 100% weren’t. So good luck on trying to find your “rightful owners”. 😂😒