Police dismantle interprovincial organized crime network

Featured, Justice

Police dismantle interprovincial organized crime network

December 23, 2019

Winnipeg Police, Ontario Provincial Police and Manitoba’s Finance and Taxation investigators worked together to bring down an organized crime network that was bringing illegal drugs and cigarettes into Manitoba.

Inspector Max Waddell from the WPS speaks to media regarding Project Highland, OPP Detective Inspector Jim Walker (Left) and Manitoba Finance’s Special Investigations Unit Supervisor Ron Bell (Right)

The joint operation that began in April 2019, known as Project Highland, investigated a group of criminals who were involved in bringing cocaine, cannabis, and contraband tobacco from southern Ontario to Winnipeg.

Police executed eight search warrants at the same time last week in Winnipeg, rural Manitoba and Ontario. Ten adults were taken into custody and charged with 34 offences ranging from Conspiracy, Drug Trafficking, Proceeds of Crime, Unlawful Possession of Cannabis and Possess Not Manitoba Marked Tobacco.

Cocaine & tobacco seized in Project Highland (WPS)

Cannabis and cash seized during Project Highland (WPS)

Police seized the following during the raids:

Approximately $120,000.00 cash
13 kilograms of cocaine
- Street value of $1.3 million
- Bulk value of $800,000.00
45 lbs of illegal cannabis
- Bulk value of $ 126,000
- Street value of $ 190,680
21 bags of cannabis edibles – gummies
- Street value of $1,050
246 cases of cigarettes
- 2.46 million individual cigarettes
- Lost tax value of $739,326
- Potential triple tax penalty $2,217,978
- Street value of $492,884
- Bulk value of $147,600
824 alprazolam (xanax) bars
- Street value of $4,120
362 grams of ecstasy (MDMA)
- Street value of $14,480
370 grams of psilocybin (mushrooms)
- Street value of $7,400
185 grams benzocaine (cutting agent)
- Street value of $1,320
Three digital money counters
Scales, score sheets, drug packaging material, and vacuum sealing equipment
Cannabis extraction press
17 mobile communication devices
400 rounds of 22 caliber ammunition
57 rounds of 726 caliber ammunition
2017 Jaguar FPACE R-Sport 35T (approx. value $50,000)
2015 Lexus NX 200T (approx.. value $30,000)
2011 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS (approx. value $10,000)
2019 Ford F150 (approx. value $45,000)
2014 Dodge Ram 1500 with hidden compartment (approx. value $25,000)
2007 Great 741 30 ft. enclosed trailer (approx. value $15,000)

Police have laid charges against the following individuals for their alleged involvement:

Stephen Pierpoint, 32 years, of Aurora, Ontario has been charged with:

Possess for the purpose of trafficking cocaine
Possess proceeds of crime over $5000
Conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance cocaine

Curtis Hibbert, 34 years, of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

Conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance cocaine
Conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance Oxycodone
Conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance Xanax
Possess for the purpose of trafficking Oxycodone
Possess proceeds of crime over $5000
Unlawful possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution contrary to section 9(2) of the Cannabis Act
Possess for the purpose of sale, a tobacco product that is not stamped, contrary to section 121.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada

Samantha Gunn, 25 years, of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

Possess proceeds of crime over $5000
Unlawful possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution contrary to section 9(2) of the Cannabis Act
Possess for the purpose of sale, a tobacco product that is not stamped, contrary to section 121.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada

Darryan Edwards, 24 years, of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

Possess for the purpose of trafficking cocaine
Possess proceeds of crime under $5000

Safa Allen, 37 years, of Winnipeg, has been charged with:
Charges:
Possess for the purpose of trafficking cocaine
Possess proceeds of crime under $5000
Possess ammunition contrary to an order, section 117.01
Possess prohibited weapon

Laura Lippai 37 years, of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

Possess for the purpose of trafficking cocaine
Possess proceeds of crime under $5000
Possess prohibited weapon

Jeremy Ritchot, 34 years, of the RM of Tache, Manitoba, has been charged with:

Conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance Ecstasy (MDMA)
Trafficking in a controlled substance Alprazolam (Xanax)
Possession for the purpose of trafficking Psilocybin
Possession for the purpose of trafficking Alprazolam (Xanax)
Possession for the purpose of trafficking Ecstasy (MDMA)
Possess proceeds of crime over $5000
Obtain cannabis by any method or process including by manufacturing, by synthesis or by using any means or altering the chemical or physical properties of cannabis, contrary to section 12.1 (a) of the Cannabis Act
Possess for the purpose of sale, a tobacco product that is not stamped, contrary to section 121.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada
Unlawful possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution contrary to section 9(2) of the Cannabis Act X 2

Rajvathanan Rajasekaran, 34 years, of Calgary, Alberta, has been charged with:

Unlawful possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution contrary to section 9(2) of the Cannabis Act
Transport a tobacco product that was not excise stamped contrary to section 121.1(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada
Posses not Manitoba marked Tobacco contrary to Section 80(2)(a) of the Taxation and Miscellaneous Taxes Act of Manitoba

Sinthusan Shanmuganathan, 31 years, of Whitby, Ontario, has been charged with:

Possession for the purpose of trafficking Cocaine
Possess proceeds of crime over $5000

Vinothan Uthayakumar, 36 years of Stouffville, Ontario, has been charged with:

Possession for the purpose of trafficking Cocaine
Possess proceeds of crime over $5000

Police say that there were a number of specialized units within the WPS and OPP that participated in the investigation and execution of warrants as well as a number of other agencies assisting investigators.