Drew Albert Donald had weapons, stolen gear and eight.5 kgs of meth when police searched the Hampton Village storage the place he stored his stash.
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Over three months, Saskatoon police suspected Drew Albert Donald was trafficking medication as they watched him make a number of journeys between his house in Saskatoon’s Parkridge neighbourhood and a pal’s storage in Hampton Village.
The investigation that started in October 2022 based mostly on “confidential source information” ended with Donald’s arrest on Dec. 16, 2022 when, after executing a search warrant, police discovered 8.5 kilograms of methamphetamine contained in the Hampton Circle storage Donald used as his “stash” location.
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Federal Crown prosecutor Ben Rogers stated the quantity of meth was “in the wholesale multi-kilogram range,” valued at between $42,500 and $51,000 on the kilogram degree, and $170,000 on the gram degree.
“I don’t specifically recall anyone with more meth in their possession than your eight-plus kilograms of methamphetamine, and I’ve been in this business for 43-plus years. That’s a lot of methamphetamine, and a significant danger to the community,” Judge Bruce Bauer stated earlier than sentencing Donald to 9 years in jail.
Donald, 34, pleaded responsible to possessing meth for the aim of trafficking, possessing a loaded prohibited firearm with out authorization, possessing a number of unloaded prohibited firearms with readily accessible ammunition, possessing a firearm whereas prohibited and driving whereas prohibited.
According to an agreed assertion details, police additionally seized from the Hampton storage three firearms — two handguns and a sawed-off shotgun — 2,792 rounds of varied ammunition varieties, two units of physique armour, 4 brass knuckles, a stolen GMC Sierra truck and several other energy instruments and industrial gear “seized as proceeds of drug trafficking.”
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From Donald’s house in the 400 block of Streb Way, police seized a machete, an inventory of drug money owed, 15.6 grams of meth, a stolen quad, extra energy instruments and a big enclosed trailer.
Rogers stated officers believed that, based mostly on the proof, Donald typically traded meth for property.
When he was arrested, he was on statutory launch from a earlier drug sentence in 2019 which included a court docket order prohibiting him from possessing firearms, and from driving for 3 years after his launch.
In presenting the joint submission, Rogers stated it’s aggravating that Donald reoffended and breached each court docket orders whereas serving the rest of his drug sentence in the neighborhood.
Defence lawyer Patrick McDougall stated the nine-year sentence is among the most important drug sentences he’s ever handled. Saskatchewan drug sentencing case legislation states the vary for this degree of meth trafficking is between six and 10 years, Rogers stated.
The day earlier than the search, officers watched Donald drive from his house and park at two areas close to the Hampton storage for one minute earlier than assembly somebody at a Super 8 lodge and driving again to the storage, the place he loaded massive gadgets into his truck.
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Rogers stated the storage belonged to Kiefer Doran Allan Foster, who was charged alongside Donald. Court data present his fees had been stayed on March 8.
McDougall informed court docket his consumer has achieved “exceedingly well” in the trades, however acquired concerned with unfavourable individuals and have become hooked on meth. He stated Donald began utilizing medication once more after he was launched from jail on account of “significant financial stress.”
“Drew does have the ability to turn his life around. He’s a smart young guy,” McDougall stated. “He understands he’s made a really significant mistake here by getting this deeply involved in this lifestyle.”
Bauer cited the Supreme Court’s discovering that greater than 80 per cent of prison exercise is drug-related — together with individuals committing offences whereas on medication, or to get medication.
“Methamphetamine ruins lives, and it ruins lots of lives,” he stated.
Donald has seven and a half years left to serve after being compensated for his remand time. He additionally acquired a lifetime weapons prohibition and a one-year driving prohibition.
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