In a significant breakthrough, the Winnipeg Police Service’s Guns & Gangs Unit has dismantled a criminal network involved in trafficking cocaine within Winnipeg and northern First Nations communities. The investigation, which began in August 2024, culminated in a traffic stop on September 19 at St. Mary’s Road and Hull Avenue.
During the operation, three males were taken into custody, and the following items were seized:
- Approximately 834 individually wrapped grams of cocaine
- 66 grams of various sizes of packaged cocaine
- $1965 in Canadian currency
- Two vehicles
- Drug packaging and trafficking materials
- A stolen identification document
- Luggage
- Airline tickets
The individuals charged with drug trafficking offences and detained in custody are:
- Ahmed Abdi Bashir, 26, of Winnipeg
- Bego Mahmutovic, 24, of Vita, Manitoba
- Reid David Asals, 27, of Penticton, British Columbia
The seized illicit drugs have an estimated street value of approximately $70,000 within the northern First Nations communities. Authorities believe this cocaine trafficking network operates interprovincially, with the intercepted drugs destined to be flown to northern First Nations communities.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Guns & Gangs Unit at 204-986-8430 or anonymously at Crime Stoppers 204-786-TIPS or winnipegcrimestoppers.org.
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