Winnipeg police-led probe into gun, drug trafficking in three provinces nets 12 arrests

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This article was published 13/01/2022 (1365 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A nine-month investigation led by the Winnipeg Police Service organized crime unit spanning at least three provinces has resulted in 12 arrests and the seizure of numerous guns, drugs and vehicles.

“In my opinion this is probably the most important investigation we’ve had here to date. There’s rising gun violence in the city and we were able to take a significant amount of guns off the street, and drugs,” Winnipeg police Insp. Elton Hall told reporters Thursday.

The investigation into the alleged firearm trafficking ring, dubbed Project Phoenix, began in May but had its roots in prior police work.

“Phoenix is a resurrection, or rebirth of sorts. These individuals were identified by our organization a couple of years ago. We believe they were trafficking guns in and out of the city of Winnipeg,” Hall said.

Before another recent organized crime investigation, Project Gold Dust, that resulted in a massive cocaine trafficking cell busted and numerous people arrested across the country in February, city police had flagged the alleged gun traffickers, Hall said.

“We learned that they were very sophisticated, they were well-insulated — so we didn’t have a lot of success,” he said. “Given the increase in gun violence this year, in April, we sat down with the organized crime unit to figure out a way to relook at these individuals.”

By the summer, investigators believed drugs were also being handled by the suspect network.

The Edmonton Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police and RCMP then became involved. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Canada Border Services, Correctional Service of Canada, and Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada also assisted.

In December, investigators executed 16 search warrants: four in Winnipeg, three in Anola, two at Stony Mountain Institution, four in Alberta, and three in the Greater Toronto Area.

On Thursday, at Winnipeg police headquarters, Hall stood behind a display of drugs, cash and guns seized by police.

“I can tell you that there are guns on this table right now that are stolen, they’re stolen from the United States,” he said, noting police aren’t alleging the gun trafficking ring was involved in smuggling the weapons across the southern border, but rather interprovincially.

“These handguns and the guns you see here are used for two things: they’re used for target practice and shooting human beings.”

Two of the people arrested, one from Alberta and one from Quebec, face charges for using drones to smuggle large quantities of drugs and other contraband into Stony Mountain Institution in Manitoba and Collins Bay Institution in Kingston, Ont., both federal prisons.

At Stony Mountain, investigators seized methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, cannabis and other contraband, which altogether would net approximately $700,000 in the prison, police said.

Among the seizures were about 40 firearms; 30 kilograms of methamphetamine; six kg of fentanyl; 15 kg of cocaine; 100 kg of cannabis; smaller amounts of heroin, ecstasy and psilocybin mushrooms; one kg of an agent used to cut drugs; 11 vehicles; four snowmobiles; three trailers; and a Bobcat.

Police froze numerous bank accounts, but Hall was not able to say how many or much money was involved.

Charges have been laid against six of the 12 people arrested and are pending for the other six. Police are seeking arrest warrants for three more people.

Matthew Cody Knysh, 30, of Winnipeg, is charged with 20 firearms offences. Mitchell Steven Lee Bruneau, 40, of Anola, is charged with six firearms offences and four counts of conspiracy. Jason Dean Bigl, 29, of Winnipeg, is charged with possessing and trafficking in firearms and four counts of conspiracy. 

Stacy DeSantis, 25, is charged with trafficking (controlled substance) and conspiracy. Mario Grosso, 36, of Heritage Pointe, Alta., is charged with trafficking (controlled substance) and conspiracy. Joseph Louis Savino, 35, of Winnipeg, is charged with six firearms-related offences and trafficking (controlled substance). 

Hall would not expand on why the conspiracy charges were laid Thursday, citing the ongoing investigation by numerous police agencies. 

All of the accused remain in custody. 

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca