On February 3, around 9:00 in the morning, Wakaw RCMP was on the lookout for a suspect vehicle involved in an impaired driving and Tobacco Tax Act investigation.

Later that day, an officer with the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle on Highway 11 near Hague. During the traffic stop, RCMP say the vehicle fled in a dangerous manner and a pursuit of the vehicle was terminated to reduce the risk of impacting the safety of other motorists. 

The vehicle and plate information were sent to Wakaw RCMP due to the proximity of the suspect vehicle’s anticipated direction of travel. 

As Wakaw officers patrolled the area for the suspect vehicle, a separate report was received from a nearby farmer of items being thrown onto a field on Highway 312 east of Rosthern. RCMP says the vehicle involved matched the description from the earlier traffic stop. 

Wakaw officers searched the field and located a duffel bag full of suspected narcotics and a number of sealed cardboard boxes full of unstamped cigarettes. 

While on the scene, Wakaw officers located the suspect vehicle parked in the distance. 

Wakaw RCMP conducted a traffic stop and the driver of the vehicle was arrested without incident. 

RCMP searched the vehicle further and seized 100,000 unstamped cigarettes, 2,040 grams of marijuana, 386 grams of cocaine, and 124 grams of hash.

29-year-old Cody Evans from Prince Albert, SK, has been charged with:

Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, contrary to Sec. 320.13(1) of the Criminal Code;

- Flight from police contrary to Sec. 320.17 of the Criminal Code;

- Possession of unstamped tobacco contrary Sec. 121.1(1) of the Criminal Code;

- 3 counts, Possession for the purpose of trafficking contrary to Sec.5(2) CDSA; and

- 1 count, Possess unstamped tobacco contrary to Sec. 32(1) of the Customs and Excise Act.

Cody Evans is scheduled to appear in court in Rosthern Provincial Court on April 26, 2023.

“This is investigation is an example of the success of collaboration between the Saskatchewan RCMP and our provincial partners,” says Sgt. Adam Von Niessen, Wakaw Detachment Commander. “Quick communication is necessary to ensure we can intervene the distribution of illicit drugs in our communities and keep the people we serve, safe.”