Pair charged, accused of dealing drugs near wildfire evacuation sites By: Chris Kitching Posted: 10:39 AM CDT Wednesday, Jul. 9, 2025 Last Modified: 4:21 PM CDT Wednesday, Jul. 9, 2025 Updates

Winnipeg police have charged two men who allegedly sold cocaine outside hotels where wildfire evacuees are staying, highlighting concerns that displaced Manitobans could be exploited or targeted.

The arrests happened after police, acting upon tips, watched what they believed were multiple drug deals, involving people in a vehicle, in the 1700 block of Wellington Avenue, near Route 90, on Sunday night.

“We were told there was allegedly drug trafficking going on at some of these (evacuation) centres, specifically on Wellington, and that there were individuals that were going to these centres and selling drugs to some of these evacuees that have come into town,” Insp. Max Waddell, the Winnipeg Police Service West District commander, said Wednesday.

Some evacuees were approached by dealers.

“You can appreciate that individuals coming in from these different centres may be very vulnerable, and may not really be accustomed to the lifestyle of some of the other individuals who live in our city,” Waddell said.

Community support unit officers arrested the passenger in the vehicle on Wellington, while the driver was arrested nearby in the 1700 block of Sargent Avenue. Officers seized three grams of cocaine, $820 in cash and a cellphone that was used as a “drug line,” a news release said.

“When there is a demand for drugs out there, that supply is always going to find that demand,” Waddell said.

Both suspects, from Winnipeg, were known to police, he said.

Farhan Hassan Arab, 18, and Caue Ramos Martins, 21, are charged with trafficking cocaine and possessing proceeds of crime under $5000. Martins was released on an undertaking.

“When there is a demand for drugs out there, that supply is always going to find that demand.”–Insp. Max Waddell

Arab, who was held in custody, was also charged with breaching an undertaking. He faces separate charges, including two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, stemming from incidents in March and May, court records showed.

When wildfire evacuations began in May, community leaders, including chiefs of northern or remote First Nations, expressed concern about the safety of evacuees in urban centres, citing potential dangers such as violence, drug or human trafficking, and sexual exploitation.

Waddell said police listened to those concerns and assigned extra officers to check in at hotels or evacuation shelters every day.

“We have taken the steps and the measures to make sure that all of these evacuees who have come into this community are as safe as they possibly can be,” he said.

Insp. Jon Lutz, a major incident response team commander, encouraged evacuees to contact police or speak to Canadian Red Cross officials if they have concerns about crime.

“Sometimes they tell us things they’ve just overheard through the evacuees — safety issues and that sort of thing,” Lutz said of the non-governmental organizations that police speak to daily.

Some First Nations posted their own safety officers at hotels in Winnipeg, including the Best Western Plus at 1715 Wellington Ave., alongside private security guards.

A First Nation safety officer and evacuee from Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (Pukatawagan) said there was talk of drug dealers lurking in the area.

“We heard there was a car — sitting and waiting for people — and not to get involved but take pictures because they don’t want us to get hurt,” said the man, who declined to give his name.

A second First Nation safety officer and evacuee said a drug dealer approached her 12-year-old son at a downtown hotel, where her 17-year-old son saw someone “shooting up” in a bathroom.

“The guy came up to my 12-year-old and asked him if he wanted to buy crack,” said the woman, who declined to give her name. “To experience that, it’s horrible. I didn’t feel safe, so I packed up my family and said I don’t want to be here.”

She said her family was moved to a different hotel after she reported her concerns to a Red Cross official.

Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake) Chief David Monias said drug dealing near evacuees’ hotels or shelters was a problem in past evacuations. He welcomed news of Sunday’s arrests.

“There are drug dealers or gang members, they’re targeting our sites to exploit the people there to sell drugs,” he said.

“Many of these people have not been out of the reserve and in the city for some time … They’re not so well-versed in the dangers that are out there, or the risks.”–Chief David Monias, Pimicikamak Cree Nation

Monias said he hopes police remain vigilant, that hotels have enough security and that evacuees are aware of potential dangers.

“Many of these people have not been out of the reserve and in the city for some time,” he said. “They’re not so well-versed in the dangers that are out there, or the risks.”

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, which represents 26 northern First Nations, commended police and said it was deeply concerned by the allegations of drug trafficking.

“Our people have already endured the unimaginable hardship and stress of fleeing their homes due to wildfires,” Grand Chief Garrison Settee said in a news release. “To have others prey on them during this vulnerable time is completely unacceptable.”

MKO has called for culturally safe, trauma-informed support for evacuees.

Daniel Hidalgo, director of the Community 204 outreach group, has done some work to support evacuees in Winnipeg.

“A lot of these folks are in a state of uncertainty and limbo due to their displacement,” he said. “Often times, people who have predatory intentions seek to take advantage of folks in these situations and exploit them.”

Hidalgo said 24-hour response teams or outreach groups could help to increase oversight. Supports with cultural sensitivity are essential to provide a level of comfort and familiarity, he said.

A Manitoba government spokesperson said teams are taking a co-ordinated security approach involving several agencies and private security.

“The province recognizes the need for trauma-informed and supportive security response to facilitate a safe, respectful and welcoming environment for evacuees during the evacuation,” the spokesperson said.

In May, the Red Cross, Manitoba Métis Federation and others warned about financial scams that asked evacuees for their personal information.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca