WPS-led trafficking probe nets 13 arrests, almost $8M in drugs, weapons, property

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This article was published 17/02/2023 (1002 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A months-long interprovincial investigation into a Manitoba-based network of alleged drug traffickers has come to a close with 13 arrests.

The Winnipeg Police Service’s organized crime branch, dubbed Project Onyx, tracked large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA (ecstasy) being shipped from Ontario and B.C. and distributed in Manitoba.

WPS said it identified the distribution network in late 2021, and began its investigation last spring.

On Dec. 14, 26 search warrants were executed across Manitoba and B.C.

Targets included 10 homes, 12 vehicles and two businesses in Winnipeg, a home in Niverville, and a home in Coquitlam, B.C.

The WPS displayed some of the seized drugs at a news conference announcing the arrests Friday morning.

Among them: 50 kilograms of cocaine (which the WPS estimates has a street value of $5 million); 20 kg of meth (estimated street value of $2 million); and 1.5 kg of MDMA (estimated street value of $60,000).

In addition, about five kg of heroin, fentanyl, psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and oxycodone were seized.

Three semi-automatic handguns with ammunition, and $500,000 in cash were also seized, along with the 12 vehicles with a total estimated value of $550,000.

Investigators also seized 50 kg of benzocaine, a topical anesthetic commonly mixed with cocaine.

Chris Tavares Silva, 47, co-owner of Sherbrook Street bagel shop Hudson Bagels, was among the 13 people arrested; police allege he used an alias during drug transactions.

WPS major crimes Insp. Elton Hall confirmed Hudson Bagels was one of two businesses searched Dec. 14, but did not name the other, which he said is an auto shop.

Silva has been charged with trafficking, possession with the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

Out of the 12 other arrests, 10 are from Manitoba: Devon Blair Creary, 39, from Springfield; Mouneer Mahboub Mohamed, 28, from Niverville; and Biniam Mengistu Fitur, 42, Stephanie Alexandrea Kabango, 24, Walid Khoudeda, 25, Giancarlo Pacag Lana, 25, Soumeya Mohamed, 59, Michael Steven Paul, 43, Randi May Reyes, 24, and an unnamed 33-year-old woman from Winnipeg.

They face a multitude of charges relating to drug possession, trafficking, firearm possession, possession of property obtained by crime and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

Cesare Pasquale Antonio Gaetano, 51, from Toronto, and Omed Raqib, 38, from Coquitlam, have also been arrested and charged.

Additional charges are pending, police said Friday.

Hall wouldn’t clarify what the relationship between the 13 people charged, saying while the project has ended, there is more investigating to do, and there will be more firearm, drug trafficking and conspiracy charges laid.

“I was fully prepared to let this go on until the springtime and continue seizing, but… the targets that we wanted to get charges on, we had, so we made the decision to end the project,” he said.

The methods of importing drugs into Manitoba varied, but include commercial shipping companies and interprovincial drug couriers.

“Investigators and assisting agencies monitored hundreds of thousands of dollars of currency being shipped and transferred through shipping companies and businesses by people using disguised identities,” Hall said.

Part of the drug seizure was green-dyed methamphetamine, something Hall said is new to Manitoba. “I’m not sure if this is a marketing ploy… and they want to establish this type of methamphetamine on the street.”

Among the drugs displayed Friday were darker-coloured bricks of cocaine, which Hall said typically signifies it has come from Mexico, a “concerning” development in the investigation.

“When you see this table, this is why crime rates are going through the roof, why shootings are going up, why gang violence is going up, so it’s a very significant arrest,” he said.

The province’s criminal intelligence centre, which was established through an amendment to the Police Services Act in 2022, put $250,000 toward the investigation.

Manitoba Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen called Project Onyx “a good example of intelligence-led policing in co-ordination with the province.”

“We know that when it comes to addiction, there needs to be support for those who are struggling with addiction, and that is an important part of the work that the government is doing,” he said.

“But, there is also an important part in ensuring that those who are profiting from that misery by importing and selling illegal drugs… face criminal charges, face civil penalties and know their actions are going to have significant consequences.”

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca