Large drug seizure picked up after traffic stop in North Battleford

Several kilograms of illegal drugs have been seized by police after a traffic stop outside of Battleford.

Around 11:30 AM on December 7th, North Battleford RCMP responded to call about an erratic driver, who they pulled over the SUV just west of Battleford on Highway 16. During a search of the SUV, over 17 kilograms of drugs were allegedly found.

These included fifteen kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, one kilogram of suspected cocaine, a kilogram of an unidentified, but believed to be controlled substance was found, and has been sent to a lab for testing. A small amount of fentanyl, along with a quantity of Canadian money, was also allegedly found.

The RCMP says breaking these down into individual doses of the drug, it could be approximately 150,000 individual doses of meth and 1,000 individual doses of cocaine.

“To be blunt, 150,000 doses is a large quantity of drugs to take off the street and keep out of the hands of some 150,000 potential people. Police officers see first-hand the impacts of drug use,” says Insp. Tom Beck, Officer in Charge of North Battleford Detachment,  We also know drugs are often laced with other harmful substances that can result in tragedy. One of the things we can do to prevent these tragedies and other ripple effects from occurring is to stem the flow of these substances before they trickle into our Saskatchewan communities and beyond,” “The seizure of this quantity of methamphetamine, will certainly have a significant, resounding impact.”

36-year-old Lowen Diehl from the Penhold and Edmonton areas will be in court facing one count each of possession of methamphetamine and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, one count of possession of fentanyl, one count of possession of proceeds of crime under $5000 and two counts of breach of a release order.

He appeared in North Battleford Provincial Court Wednesday morning and will appear again December 16th at 11 AM.