University of Regina Rams players among 5 people charged in drug trafficking investigation

Two Regina Rams football players are among five people facing charges after a four-month long drug trafficking investigation into a criminal organization by the Regina Police Service.

On Thursday and Friday, investigators executed eight search warrants at five residences and three vehicles. 

The Regina Police Service said the searches were conducted at a home in Alameda and a home in Frobisher, two small communities in the south east of the province.

Three homes in Regina were also searched, according to Insp. Gary Giroux, who is in charge of the Regina Police Service's firearms, drugs and gangs units. 

Giroux said the items seized include:

• 7.5 kilograms of fentanyl.
• 476 grams of cocaine.
• 22 grams of methamphetamine.
• $151,425.00 in cash.
• A prohibited .22 calibre handgun and ammunition.
• A restricted 9 mm handgun and ammunition.
• Three vehicles.

During a news conference on Monday, Giroux said seizures like this make the community safer. Giroux said the seizure of the fentanyl is especially important.

"If you were to look at street level, that's 75,000 doses. So 75,000 people in our community and maybe some surrounding communities do not have access to that now," he said.

Giroux said the value of the seizure is estimated to be approximately $1.5 million.

He declined to address the specific criminal organization police were investigating. He said those details will come out in court.

"The fentanyl did come from out of province. It came from the east," he said.

Five people have been charged as a result of the investigation.

They include Emmanuel Ramadan Bashir, 36, Morteza Ahadi, 32, Randal Lee Racette, 44, Michael Jourdan, 21, and Tarick Polius, 24.

In a statement, the University of Regina confirmed Jourdan and Polius are student athletes enrolled at the university and both played for the Rams during the 2024 season.

Polius played his first season with the Rams last year and was named a Canada West all-star at defensive tackle. He led all other Canada West lineman, finishing with 3.5 sacks, 6 tackles for loss and 26.5 tackles overall.

Rams head coach Mark McConkey previously called Polius a "game changer" the Rams defence.

Both Polius and Jourdan played a role in the Rams' first run to the Mitchell Bowl.

The U of R said it would not comment on the arrest or charges.

"At this time, the individuals are suspended from the football team," the U of R statement read.

Polius and Jourdan are residents of Toronto. Both are charged with:

• Commission of an offence for a criminal organization.
• Traffic in a controlled substance (fentanyl).
• Possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking.
• Possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000.

Polius faces an additional charge of conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance. 

Bashir, of Regina, has been charged with:

• Instructing the commission of an offence for a criminal organization.
• Two counts of conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance, one tied to fentanyl and one tied to cocaine.
• Two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, one tied to fentanyl and one tied to cocaine.
•  One count of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
• One count of proceeds of crime over $5,000.

Ahadi, of Alameda, faces the following charges:

• Commission of an offence for a criminal organization.
• Two counts of conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance, one tied to fentanyl and one tied to cocaine.
• One count of trafficking in a controlled substance tied to cocaine.
• One count of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
• One count of possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking.
• One count possession of a forged document with intent.
• One count of possession of proceeds of a crime under $5,000.
• One count of unauthorized possession of a firearm.
• One count of possession of a loaded, prohibited firearm.
• One count of careless storage of a firearm.

Racette, of Regina, faces the following charges:

• One count of conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance, tied to fentanyl.
• One count of possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking.
• One count of possession of proceeds of a crime under $5,000.
• One count of unauthorized possession of a firearm.
• One count of possession of a loaded, prohibited firearm.
• One count of careless storage of a firearm.
• One count of possession of a prohibited device, an over capacity magazine.

All five made their first appearances in Regina provincial court on Friday.