Husband, wife charged in small town drug bust released on bail

A husband and wife — two of seven people charged in a major Saskatchewan drug bust earlier this week — were released on bail Friday.

The pair, Evan and Pamela Ashdown, alongside their daughter, 25-year-old Sheena Elsa Ashdown, were allegedly running a drug ring out of a family-owned business in the towns of Mistatim, Tisdale and Arborfield, according to RCMP.

Officers with Saskatchewan’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit discovered more than $230,000 in cash along with 32 pounds of marijuana and two ounces of cocaine Monday after searching two homes and a business in Mistatim, a business in Tisdale and a business in Arborfield.

Three commercial properties, four residences and five vehicles were seized and a total of seven people were arrested. The RCMP's investigation into the alleged drug ring lasted nine months and more than 60 officers were involved in the bust.

Evan William Ashdown, 49, was charged with trafficking marijuana and cocaine, possessing marijuana and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possessing the proceeds of crime and laundering money. He was released on $7,500 bail in Melfort provincial court.

Pamela Diana Ashdown, 48, was released on bail under a number of conditions. She is accused of possessing marijuana and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possessing the proceeds of crime and laundering money.

A third man, Adam Clayton John Arthur, 33, was also released on bail. He is charged with marijuana trafficking and possession as well as possessing the proceeds of crime.

The Ashdown’s daughter, Sheena, is scheduled to appear in Hudson Bay Court April 22 along with three others — Christopher Ryan Simmons, 29, Amanda Wiens, 20, and Richard Renaud, 52.

Sheena and Simmons are charged with possessing marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and possessing the proceeds of crime while Wiens is charged with possessing crime proceeds and Renaud is charged with possessing marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

All seven people arrested, except Arthur, are from Mistatim. Arthur is from Carragana, Sask.