It was an early morning bust near Herbert, SK on Thursday, as RCMP officers from the Roving Traffic Unit participated in a routine traffic stop.

On September 30, 2021, officers pulled over a vehicle on Highway #1 near the town and immediately observed a small quantity of methamphetamine in plain view.

A search of the vehicle followed, where officers found and seized around 100 identity, credit and debit cards that did not belong to the occupants of the vehicle, as well as bear mace and items used in the making of fraudulent credit cards.

Small amounts of other suspected illicit drugs were also found, and those will be tested and identified as a part of the ongoing investigation.

A search of the vehicle's VIN number at that point indicated that it had been tampered with and that the vehicle had been reported stolen in Regina, SK.

Three individuals are facing criminal charges stemming from the incident.

Joel Gavina (38) of Calgary, AB; Shaylynn McKay-Koochicum (21); and Aldrin Pascua (31) of Regina, SK are each charged with:

  • 4 counts, possession, Section 4(1), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
  • 1 count, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, Section 88, Criminal Code
  • 1 count, carry concealed weapon, Section 90, Criminal Code
  • 1 count, alter or remove VIN on motor vehicle, Section 353(1), Criminal Code
  • 1 count, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code
  • 1 count, possession of instruments or devices to falsify or forge credit cards, Section 342.01, Criminal Code
  • 18 counts, possession of credit card, Section 342(1)(c)(i), Criminal Code
  • 7 counts, possession of identity documents, Section 56.1(1), Criminal Code

Pascua has also been charged with:

  • 2 counts, breach of probation, Section 733.1(1), Criminal Code
  • 2 count, fail to comply with release order, Section 145(5)(a), Criminal Code.

All three have been remanded and will appear in Swift Current Provincial Court on Monday, October 4, 2021.