Two men facing drug, weapons charges after raid near Biggar

The RCMP’s Federal Serious and Organized Crime unit has laid a number of drug- and gun-related charges in the wake of a raid Friday near Biggar.

The RCMP said shots were fired at officers during the execution of the warrant and one officer suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

According to the Mounties, a house, two buildings and two vehicles were searched during the operation, which was staged 27 kilometres north of Biggar.

(RCMP/Submitted)

The weapons seized by officers included a spent light anti-tank weapon, a semi-automatic assault rifle, a shotgun, a sawed-off double barrel shotgun and a revolver. Body armour also was found.

Officers also found: A kilogram of methamphetamine; 444 grams of fentanyl, equating to 4,400 single doses; 3,035 millilitres of gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB); 500 alazopram (Xanax) pills; 400 tabs of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD); $16,080 in Canadian cash; two money counters; scales and packaging for drugs; and, eight cellphones as well as several computers and tablets.

(RCMP/Submitted)

Two men have been charged, including one who was arrested in Regina a day before the search warrant was executed.

Kurt Elliot Miller, a 39-year-old from the RM of Glenside, was arrested by the Regina Police Service after a traffic stop on Thursday in the Queen City.

He faced charges after that traffic stop and other charges — including 16 Criminal Code offences relating to firearms — were laid after the search near Biggar.

Mitch Hutchinson, a 49-year-old resident of the RM of Glenside, was arrested after the search warrant was executed near Biggar. He faces 18 gun-related charges and numerous drug charges.

An RCMP spokesperson said the investigation is continuing into the wounding of the officer. It’s currently unclear if or when charges will be laid.

Hutchinson made his first court appearance Tuesday in Saskatoon Provincial Court. Miller appeared Tuesday in Regina Provincial Court.

“This investigation has removed significant quantities of dangerous drugs from our communities,” Sgt. Jason Kerr of the Saskatchewan RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime unit said in the release.

“The Saskatchewan RCMP is committed to targeting and disrupting the sale of illicit drugs in our province. The types of drugs seized during this investigation have had dangerous, and at times, deadly impacts on the residents of Saskatchewan.”

The investigation is continuing.

Miller is also one of four people facing charges in a combined investigation by the Regina Police Service Drug Unit (RDU) in conjunction with the Saskatoon Integrated Intelligence Unit, the Saskatoon RCMP Federal Serious Crime Unit and the Regina Integrated Crime Reduction Team (ICRT) which completed an investigation into drug trafficking within the city of Regina and the Saskatoon area.

In this investigation, Miller is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine), possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (methamphetamine), possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, and breach of probation.

A 41-year old man, a 27-year-old man and a 37-year old woman were also charged.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an amended version of the story, reflecting a change made by the RCMP to the accused’s home addresses.