A Regina man is upset and confused after the RCMP dropped off boxes of once new satellite dishes they were ordered to return to him 11 years ago.

Bernel Vargo's saga began in 2002 when he received a shipment of new satellite dishes.

Back then, he made money selling imported Direct TV satellite units to local retailers.

"I wasn't smuggling this stuff," he said on Thursday.

Vargo said what he was doing was legal, and he had obtained permission to do so from the government, customs, as well as paid relevant duties and taxes.

On Thursday, the RCMP dumped a pile of boxes containing satellite dishes they confiscated from a Regina man 15 years ago. (Glenn Reid/CBC)

RCMP ordered to return satellite dishes

The day after receiving his shipment, which he estimates was worth around $40,000 at the time, the RCMP confiscated the equipment without warning and charged him with illegal distribution of programming.

"They backed vehicles up and unloaded them out of my garage," Vargo said. "Just like that and it's gone."

He was never convicted and took the matter to court to get his stuff back.

In 2006, a judge issued a court order mandating the RCMP return all of Vargo's goods, but that never happened.

Calls demanding a pick-up 11 years after

Vargo said over the years he made repeated attempts to retrieve his property, but the RCMP refused.

"At one point, they told me if they did give it back they would arrest me again for having it."

Then, about six months ago, Vargo said he started receiving calls from a constable, demanding he take the equipment back.

Vargo said he doesn't know what prompted the call 15 years after his stuff was initially seized. He said he asked about what compensation he was entitled to receive, to which the officer replied: "That's not my department."

The RCMP confirmed they returned the satellite dishes on Thursday and said Vargo can file a complaint if he wishes. Police would not provide further comment.

Bernel Vargo says he's probably going to truck the now 'useless' equipment to the dump. (Glenn Reid/CBC)

Equipment now worthless

Vargo said an RCMP vehicle backed onto the driveway of his girlfriend's property Thursday morning and left piles of boxes.

Vargo is upset and has hired a lawyer to try and get compensation for the equipment he says is now "completely useless."

"I don't know what I'm going to do with it now. I guess I will throw it in the dump," said Vargo.