Two U of R Rams among five men charged in Regina drug bust

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Two University of Regina football players are among five people arrested and charged after a four-month-long drug trafficking investigation by the Regina Police Service (RPS).

The investigation involved the Drug Unit and Street Gang Unit and culminated in the execution of eight search warrants on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21, RPS said in a news release Monday, noting a “significant” amount of fentanyl was seized, along with other drugs and cash.

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The U of R confirmed in an emailed statement that Rams players Tarick Polius, 24, and Michael Jourdan, 21, both from Toronto, were arrested in relation to the investigation.

“We can confirm Michael Jourdan and Tarick Polius are student athletes enrolled at the University of Regina and played football for the Rams during the 2024 season. Due to the ongoing police investigation, we will not comment on the arrest or the charges. At this time, the individuals are suspended from the football team,” the statement said.

RPS said searches took place in Regina, Alameda and Frobisher, Sask. and led to the seizure of 7.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 476 grams of cocaine, 22 grams of methamphetamine and more than $150,000 in cash.

Police also recovered a prohibited .22-calibre handgun and ammunition, a restricted 9mm handgun and ammunition, and three vehicles, notes the release. Police estimate the value of all items seized to be approximately $1.5 million.

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Insp. Gary Giroux of the RPS Investigative Services Division spoke to reporters at a news conference held at police headquarters Monday afternoon.

He said of the eight search warrants executed, five were on residences and three were on vehicles.

He declined to answer a number of questions, saying details would come out in court. However, he did say the fentanyl came from Eastern Canada, but did not specify a province.

He said the amount of fentanyl represented 75,000 doses at “street level.”

According to Giroux, the investigation involved “numerous tactics, information sources, intelligence tactics,” as well as communication with police in other jurisdictions.

When asked if there were concerns that some of the fentanyl may have ended up in the United States, he said: “At this point, the investigation is still ongoing and I won’t be able to speak to that.”

He said that while at one time it may have been unusual to see multi-kilogram fentanyl seizures in Regina, it is now becoming more common.

Polius is charged with:

• commission of an offence for a criminal organization
• conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance (fentanyl)
• traffic in a controlled substance (fentanyl)
• possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking
• possession of the proceeds of crime under $5,000

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Jourdan is charged with:

• commission of an offence for a criminal organization
• possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking
• traffic in a controlled substance (fentanyl)
• possession of the proceeds of crime under $5,000

Emmanuel Ramadan Bashir, 36, of Regina, is charged with:

• instructing the commission of an offence for a criminal organization
• two counts of conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance (fentanyl and cocaine)
• two counts of traffic in a controlled substance (fentanyl and cocaine)
• possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking
• possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000

Morteza Ahadi, 32, of Alameda, Sask., is charged with:

• commission of an offence for a criminal organization
• two counts of conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance (fentanyl and cocaine)
• traffic in a controlled substance (cocaine)
• possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking
• possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking
• possession of a forged document with intent
• possession of the proceeds of crime under $5,000
• unauthorized possession of a firearm
• possession of a loaded, prohibited firearm
• careless storage of a firearm

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Randal Lee Racette, 44, of Regina, is charged with:

• conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance (fentanyl)
• possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking
• possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000
• possession of a loaded, restricted firearm
• unauthorized possession of a firearm
• careless storage of a firearm
• possession of a prohibited device (over capacity magazine)

All five accused made their first appearances in Regina provincial court on Feb. 21, 2025, according to the release.

— with files from Brandon Harder

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