Two players from the Regina Rams football team, along with three others, have been charged in connection with a drug trafficking investigation conducted by the Regina Police Service targeting a criminal group over four months.
On Thursday and Friday, authorities carried out eight search warrants on five residences and three vehicles. The searches took place at a residence in Alameda and another in Frobisher, both small communities in the southeastern part of the province, as well as three homes in Regina.
According to Insp. Gary Giroux, who oversees the firearms, drugs, and gangs divisions of the Regina Police Service, the seized items include 7.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 476 grams of cocaine, 22 grams of methamphetamine, $151,425 in cash, a prohibited .22-caliber handgun with ammunition, a restricted 9 mm handgun with ammunition, and three vehicles.
At a news conference on Monday, Giroux emphasized the significance of such seizures in enhancing community safety, particularly noting the importance of confiscating the fentanyl, which he estimated to be equivalent to 75,000 doses.
Giroux estimated the seized items to have a value of approximately $1.5 million but refrained from disclosing details about the specific criminal organization under investigation, stating that such information would be revealed during court proceedings.
He mentioned that the fentanyl originated from outside the province, specifically from the east.
Five individuals have been charged as a result of the investigation, including Emmanuel Ramadan Bashir, 36, Morteza Ahadi, 32, Randal Lee Racette, 44, Michael Jourdan, 21, and Tarick Polius, 24.
The University of Regina confirmed that Jourdan and Polius are student athletes at the university and were part of the Rams team during the 2024 season.
Polius, a defensive tackle, was named a Canada West all-star in his first season with the Rams, leading in various defensive statistics.
Head coach Mark McConkey praised Polius as a “game changer” for the Rams defense, highlighting his contributions to the team’s success in reaching the Mitchell Bowl.
The university stated that it would not comment on the arrests or charges but confirmed that the individuals are suspended from the football team.
Both Polius and Jourdan, residents of Toronto, face multiple charges related to criminal organization offenses and drug trafficking.
Bashir, Ahadi, and Racette also face various charges related to criminal organization offenses and drug trafficking, with all five individuals appearing
