Illicit drugs, currency, firearms seized in Winnipeg following drug-trafficking investigation

CBC News

· Posted: Mar 12, 2025 1:24 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

A web of cause traffickers transported a ample quantity of illicit drugs and firearms to Winnipeg from Toronto, Winnipeg constabulary say.

Mail services, commercialized airplanes, trains, off-road vehicles and boats arsenic good arsenic cars and trucks with hidden compartments were utilized to transport the drugs, Insp. Josh Ewatski of the Winnipeg Police Service's organized transgression portion told reporters connected Wednesday.

The drugs were distributed passim Manitoba, including Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie, Thompson and Sandy Bay First Nation, Ewatski said.

The cause traffickers besides targeted northern communities, including Norway House Cree Nation, Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Nelson House Cree Nation and The Pas. 

"These individuals were profiting disconnected of these communities by selling cocaine, methamphetamine, hydromorphone and MDMA [ecstasy]," Ewatski said.

On Jan. 31, Winnipeg police issued aggregate hunt warrants pursuing a nine-month probe dubbed Project Lowkey. Manitoba RCMP, Manitoba First Nations Police Service, and police successful Saskatoon, Vancouver and Toronto assisted successful the investigation. 

So far, 9 radical person been arrested and look charges, including a 25-year-old antheral from Winnipeg and a 19-year-old antheral from Sandy Bay First Nation who were among those arrested successful the province. Both person been charged with 3 counts of conspiracy to perpetrate an indictable offence. 

Police are inactive searching for 5 radical for their alleged engagement successful the cause trafficking network, Ewatski said. 

Police person seized 7 loaded firearms, assorted types of ammunition, cocaine, methamphetamine, hydromorphone pills, cause packaging materials, Canadian currency and 3 vehicles.