Officers from Saskatchewan RCMP’s North Battleford Crime Reduction Team were conducting proactive patrols on Highway 40, outside of North Battleford and ended up executing a search warrant on Little Pine First Nation.
An officer conducted a traffic stop and observed open liquor in the vehicle. The occupants were arrested. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers located and seized a semi-automatic handgun, approximately 56 grams of cocaine, a sum of cash and drug trafficking paraphernalia.
As a result of continued investigation, officers executed a search warrant at a residence on Little Pine First Nation. They located and seized five additional firearms, bear mace, ammunition, and an additional quantity of cocaine.
45-year-old Steven Nighttraveller from Little Pine First Nation was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of firearm obtained by crime, unlicensed possession of firearm with readily-available ammunition, occupy a vehicle knowing a firearm is in it, knowingly possess a restricted firearm without a license, possession of restricted firearm without a license, carry concealed weapon, unsafe storage of a firearm, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
The other occupants of the vehicle were released without charge.
Steven Nighttraveller is scheduled to appear in North Battleford Provincial Court on December 11, 2023.
Cut Knife RCMP assisted in this ongoing investigation.
