City police bust massive coke-trafficking ring Save to Read Later
Winnipeg police sezied more than $11.5 million in illicit drugs, cash, properties, vehicles and guns as part of Project Gold Dust, said Insp. Max Waddell. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)
Winnipeg police made the largest seizure in the force s history more than $11.5 million in illicit drugs, cash, properties, vehicles and guns as they shut down a highly organized, cocaine-trafficking cell.
Winnipeg police made the largest seizure in the force s history more than $11.5 million in illicit drugs, cash, properties, vehicles and guns as they shut down a highly organized, cocaine-trafficking cell.
The investigation, dubbed Project Gold Dust, began last May.
Author of the article: Kevin King
Publishing date: Feb 24, 2021 • February 24, 2021 • 2 minute read • Winnipeg Police Inspector Max Waddell announces that a major inter-provincial drug network was dismantled recently during what they have called Project Gold Dust. During the 10-month long investigation the police were able to confiscate among other things; 17 kilograms of cocaine (which the dealers were calling BitCoin), 21lbs of cannabis, $2million in cash, $107,000 in bit-coin, along with several guns which were on display at the police headquarters during the media conference Wednesday morning. MIKE DEAL / POOL
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The Winnipeg Police Service seized a record amount of assets, including its first chunk of bitcoin, in taking down a high-level, interprovincial cocaine trafficking cell, it announced Wednesday.
Winnipeg police have announced the largest seizure of illicit drugs and assets ever made in the city after a months-long investigation into a drug trafficking network dubbed "The Company."
The impact of this investigation will ensure the reduction of acts of violence, property crime and, most importantly, the reduction of overdose deaths, Waddell said Wednesday.
An investigation into the group began last May. Police said the drugs were distributed through a sophisticated operating network of dealers and local couriers.
On Feb. 10, 144 officers in the two provinces executed search warrants in Winnipeg, Vancouver and Surrey, B.C. Waddell said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected. There are many tentacles involved in organized crime, Waddell said.
The total value of assets seized was more than $13.3 million.
They included cocaine with an estimated street value of $1.4 million as well as cannabis and ecstasy and $2 million in cash.
The Winnipeg Police Service seized a total of $11.5 million in assets, including drugs, Bitcoin and cars, during a months-long investigation into a multi-provincial drug network between British Columbia and Manitoba.