Police put dent in Manitoba cocaine, gun trafficking ring

CBC News

· Posted: Jun 12, 2025 1:54 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours ago

Winnipeg constabulary and RCMP seized $60,000 worthy of cocaine and opioids, on with 35 guns, arsenic portion of a associated probe into a web of cause and firearms traffickers successful Manitoba.

Five radical person been charged with a full of 53 offences arsenic portion of the investigation, dubbed Project Quarry.

The sanction refers to the fact that astir of the residences progressive successful the probe were successful the Stonewall and Rockwood areas — location to respective past and contiguous quarries. Two of the addresses were successful Winnipeg.

Police said they besides seized $1,500 cash, cause packaging and trafficking materials, arsenic good arsenic a ample magnitude of ammunition and accessories specified arsenic silencers and devices that converted guns into automatic weapons.

Some of the guns were stolen and others were smuggled into Canada from the United States, constabulary said astatine a quality league connected Thursday morning.

"We don't privation these firearms connected the streets and successful the hands of radical who are going to usage them, not lone against their rivals, but what we ever spot happens is idiosyncratic who's guiltless gets caught successful the crossfire," said Winnipeg Police Service Insp. Josh Ewatski, noting each the firearms were recovered successful a location successful Rockwood, conscionable northbound of Winnipeg.

"This is simply a huge, immense nationalist information contented that idiosyncratic is capable to stockpile this galore firearms. It's a alleviation to everyone that we person these ones disconnected the street. However, we cognize that determination are galore much retired there."

The full worth of the seized guns is $160,000 to $200,000, "maybe adjacent a small spot more," Ewatski said.

The full magnitude of cocaine seized was astir 1 kilogram. Ewatski didn't cognize the quantity of opioids, which consisted of hydromorphone.

The probe was launched successful November 2024 with searches done connected homes and vehicles successful mid-March 2025. The arrests were made astatine the clip of the searches.

It took clip for the announcement of the arrests to beryllium made nationalist due to the fact that constabulary were progressive successful different investigations, Ewatski said.

Project Quarry is ongoing and anyone with accusation regarding amerciable drugs and firearms is urged to interaction the Winnipeg Police Service's cause enforcement portion astatine 204-986-7003 oregon the Stonewall RCMP at 204-467-5015.

Anonymous tips tin besides beryllium made by calling Crime Stoppers astatine 204-786-8477 or submitting them online.