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Man facing weapons, drug charges denied bail in Saskatoon court

A man arrested in a drug bust in Saskatoon and Bjorkdale was denied bail May 7. Rudi Betthel, 52, of Bjorkdale was arrested after several police forces teamed up and raided two homes on April 26.
Bjorkdale Saskatoon drug bust
Rudi Betthel and Tricia Karpluk were arrested near Saskatoon in April after police raided two homes and seized drugs and weapons. (Police photo)

A man arrested in a drug bust in Saskatoon and Bjorkdale was denied bail May 7.

Rudi Betthel, 52, of Bjorkdale was arrested after several police forces teamed up and raided two homes on April 26.

During the raid police seized a significant amount of methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and cocaine. According to the Saskatoon Integrated Crime Reduction Team (S-ICRT), the amount of drugs seized represents around 4,068 individual sales of Methamphetamine, 992 individual sales of cocaine and about 3,062 potential street levels sales of Fentanyl.

Betthel was charged with five counts of trafficking drugs, five counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, and five counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

His co-accused Tricia Karpluk, 29, was released on bail. She was charged with trafficking drugs, possession of proceeds obtained by crime, possession of proceeds obtained by crime under $5,000, possess a weapon for a dangerous purpose, store a firearm in a careless manner, and possess a firearm knowing the serial number has been removed.

Betthel and Karpluk both appear next in Saskatoon Provincial Court on May 18. 

The charges against them haven't been proven in court.