Illicit drugs, currency, firearms seized in Winnipeg following drug-trafficking investigation
Mail services, commercial airplanes, trains, off-road vehicles and boats as well as cars and trucks with hidden compartments were used to transport the drugs, Insp. Josh Ewatski of the Winnipeg Police Service's organized crime unit told reporters on Wednesday.
The drugs were distributed throughout Manitoba, including Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie, Thompson and Sandy Bay First Nation, Ewatski said.
The drug traffickers also targeted northern communities, including Norway House Cree Nation, Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Nelson House Cree Nation and The Pas.
"These individuals were profiting off of these communities by selling cocaine, methamphetamine, hydromorphone and MDMA [ecstasy]," Ewatski said.
On Jan. 31, Winnipeg police issued multiple search warrants following a nine-month investigation dubbed Project Lowkey. Manitoba RCMP, Manitoba First Nations Police Service, and police in Saskatoon, Vancouver and Toronto assisted in the investigation.
So far, nine people have been arrested and face charges, including a 25-year-old man from Winnipeg and a 19-year-old man from Sandy Bay First Nation who were among those arrested in the province. Both have been charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.
Police are still searching for five people for their alleged involvement in the drug trafficking network, Ewatski said.
Police have seized seven loaded firearms, various types of ammunition, cocaine, methamphetamine, hydromorphone pills, drug packaging materials, Canadian currency and three vehicles.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
33 minutes ago
- Global News
RCMP union pushes for changes to help attract talent from U.S., other countries
The union representing front-line Royal Canadian Mounted Police members wants the force to ease requirements for foreign applicants to help attract experienced police officers from agencies like the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and counterparts in the United Kingdom and Australia. The RCMP currently requires that applicants be Canadian citizens or have permanent resident status in Canada. Applicants with permanent resident status must have lived in Canada as a permanent resident for three of the last five years. The National Police Federation says the RCMP should follow the lead of the Canadian Armed Forces, which in 2022 opened applications to permanent residents without any requirement on time spent in Canada. Federation president Brian Sauvé said he's 'pretty sure we can attract some good talent' through a similar move by the RCMP. Sauvé compares the idea to federal immigration programs that seek to entice skilled workers to come to Canada. Story continues below advertisement 'If this government has identified public safety, border security and all that stuff as an imperative, we can do the same thing, right?' Sauvé said in a recent interview. 'We have equivalency training. You can come from Manchester, you can come from New South Wales, you can come from, I don't know, the FBI. And we'll train you to be equivalent, to give you a job and put you in a role.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We have equivalency training. You can come from Manchester, you can come from New South Wales, you can come from, I don't know, the FBI. And we'll train you to be equivalent, to give you a job and put you in a role." 1:59 RCMP shortage impacts rural Manitoba communities The proposal is one of several ideas the police federation presented in a June report aimed at improving the RCMP's recruitment practices, funding model, training programs and procurement. The federation says independent reports over the past two decades have offered the federal government clear guidance on how to improve RCMP operations in these areas. 'Yet time and again, these recommendations have been met with inaction or insufficient follow-through,' the June report says. 'As a result, long-standing issues persisted and were allowed to worsen.' Story continues below advertisement Public Safety Canada spokesperson Max Watson said the department is committed to working with the RCMP and others to ensure the force 'is equipped to meet evolving public safety needs.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The federation is calling for a streamlined and modernized RCMP application processing system, more training capacity and an increase in the cadet training allowance to about $1,200 a week from the current $525. The federation says it wants more flexibility for some new recruits, such as people from other law enforcement agencies, to make it easier for them to fit into the RCMP. 2:07 New initiative at RCMP Depot focuses on removing systemic barriers For instance, the federation notes only serving or recently inactive police officers can apply through the RCMP's three-week experienced police officer program, provided they meet strict criteria. That excludes a large pool of well-trained public safety personnel, including members of the Canada Border Services Agency, provincial sheriffs, conservation officers and other law enforcement agents who may not meet the threshold, the report says. Story continues below advertisement Forcing these candidates to repeat a full 26-week training program at the RCMP training depot 'creates a barrier to recruitment and results in missed opportunities to bring skilled, experienced candidates into the RCMP,' the report adds. It also says the federal procurement process is too slow and unresponsive to the urgent needs of modern policing, and drains valuable government resources. 'Delays in rolling out life-saving equipment, including service pistols, body armour and body-worn cameras, threaten both officer safety and public trust,' the report says. 1:53 RCMP working to tackle high vacancy rate During the spring election campaign, the Liberals promised to recruit 1,000 more RCMP personnel to tackle drug and human trafficking, foreign interference, cybercrime and car thefts by organized crime. The Liberals also pledged to create a new RCMP academy in Regina and increase pay for cadet recruits. Story continues below advertisement Watson acknowledged the promise to hire more Mounties and said Public Safety recognizes the importance of cadet pay in broader efforts to support recruitment and retention. The RCMP did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication. The police force has been told to trim two per cent of its budget as part of a governmentwide cost-cutting exercise. Sauvé said he is 'cautiously optimistic' the Liberal government will follow through on its commitment to strengthen law enforcement, set out in a May mandate letter. 1:42 RCMP report 2% vacancy rate, influx in recruits in Saskatchewan The RCMP provides policing services through contracts with all provinces and territories, except Ontario and Quebec. RCMP policing agreements cover much of rural Canada, all of the North and many towns and municipalities in contract provinces. Story continues below advertisement The police federation acknowledges that some continue to ask whether the RCMP should shed its contract policing role across Canada and become more like the FBI by focusing on federal criminal matters. In March, before Mark Carney became prime minister, the Liberals published a paper outlining a new vision for the RCMP. It suggested the force concentrate on federal policing, reflecting its 'essential mandate and where it is best placed to lead investigations.' The federation flatly rejects the idea. 'The RCMP's integrated pan-Canadian policing model remains one of its greatest strengths, due to its ability to leverage co-ordination, consistency and efficiency across all jurisdictions,' the June report says. It argues that moving away from the current model 'would create deep service gaps, duplication and costly public safety and economic inefficiencies with no evidence of better results.' The federation calls for dedicated funding for federal policing, saying RCMP officers carrying out those duties must no longer be used to backstop vacancies in contract jurisdictions. 'Federal assets should be used solely for federal mandates,' the report says.
Vancouver Sun
2 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
RCMP union pushes for change to help force attract talent from U.S., other countries
OTTAWA — The union representing front-line RCMP members wants the force to ease requirements for foreign applicants to help attract experienced police officers from agencies like the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and counterparts in the United Kingdom and Australia. The RCMP currently requires that applicants be Canadian citizens or have permanent resident status in Canada. Applicants with permanent resident status must have lived in Canada as a permanent resident for three of the last five years. The National Police Federation says the RCMP should follow the lead of the Canadian Armed Forces, which in 2022 opened applications to permanent residents without any requirement on time spent in Canada. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Federation president Brian Sauve said he's 'pretty sure we can attract some good talent' through a similar move by the RCMP. Sauve compares the idea to federal immigration programs that seek to entice skilled workers to come to Canada. 'If this government has identified public safety, border security and all that stuff as an imperative, we can do the same thing, right?' Sauve said in a recent interview. 'We have equivalency training. You can come from Manchester, you can come from New South Wales, you can come from, I don't know, the FBI. And we'll train you to be equivalent, to give you a job and put you in a role.' The proposal is one of several ideas the police federation presented in a June report aimed at improving the RCMP's recruitment practices, funding model, training programs and procurement. The federation says independent reports over the past two decades have offered the federal government clear guidance on how to improve RCMP operations in these areas. 'Yet time and again, these recommendations have been met with inaction or insufficient follow-through,' the June report says. 'As a result, long-standing issues persisted and were allowed to worsen.' Public Safety Canada spokesperson Max Watson said the department is committed to working with the RCMP and others to ensure the force 'is equipped to meet evolving public safety needs.' The federation is calling for a streamlined and modernized RCMP application processing system, more training capacity and an increase in the cadet training allowance to about $1,200 a week from the current $525. The federation says it wants more flexibility for some new recruits, such as people from other law enforcement agencies, to make it easier for them to fit into the RCMP. For instance, the federation notes only serving or recently inactive police officers can apply through the RCMP's three-week experienced police officer program, provided they meet strict criteria. That excludes a large pool of well-trained public safety personnel, including members of the Canada Border Services Agency, provincial sheriffs, conservation officers and other law enforcement agents who may not meet the threshold, the report says. Forcing these candidates to repeat a full 26-week training program at the RCMP training depot 'creates a barrier to recruitment and results in missed opportunities to bring skilled, experienced candidates into the RCMP,' the report adds. It also says the federal procurement process is too slow and unresponsive to the urgent needs of modern policing, and drains valuable government resources. 'Delays in rolling out life-saving equipment, including service pistols, body armour and body-worn cameras, threaten both officer safety and public trust,' the report says. During the spring election campaign, the Liberals promised to recruit 1,000 more RCMP personnel to tackle drug and human trafficking, foreign interference, cybercrime and car thefts by organized crime. The Liberals also pledged to create a new RCMP academy in Regina and increase pay for cadet recruits. Watson acknowledged the promise to hire more Mounties and said Public Safety recognizes the importance of cadet pay in broader efforts to support recruitment and retention. The RCMP did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication. The police force has been told to trim two per cent of its budget as part of a governmentwide cost-cutting exercise. Sauve said he is 'cautiously optimistic' the Liberal government will follow through on its commitment to strengthen law enforcement, set out in a May mandate letter. The RCMP provides policing services through contracts with all provinces and territories, except Ontario and Quebec. RCMP policing agreements cover much of rural Canada, all of the North and many towns and municipalities in contract provinces. The police federation acknowledges that some continue to ask whether the RCMP should shed its contract policing role across Canada and become more like the FBI by focusing on federal criminal matters. In March, before Mark Carney became prime minister, the Liberals published a paper outlining a new vision for the RCMP. It suggested the force concentrate on federal policing, reflecting its 'essential mandate and where it is best placed to lead investigations.' The federation flatly rejects the idea 'The RCMP's integrated pan-Canadian policing model remains one of its greatest strengths, due to its ability to leverage co-ordination, consistency and efficiency across all jurisdictions,' the June report says. It argues that moving away from the current model 'would create deep service gaps, duplication and costly public safety and economic inefficiencies with no evidence of better results.' The federation calls for dedicated funding for federal policing, saying RCMP officers carrying out those duties must no longer be used to backstop vacancies in contract jurisdictions. 'Federal assets should be used solely for federal mandates,' the report says. 'If federal members are redeployed for non-federal purposes, those services must be cost-recovered from contract partners.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Winnipeg Free Press
8 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
RCMP union pushes for change to help force attract talent from U.S., other countries
OTTAWA – The union representing front-line RCMP members wants the force to ease requirements for foreign applicants to help attract experienced police officers from agencies like the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and counterparts in the United Kingdom and Australia. The RCMP currently requires that applicants be Canadian citizens or have permanent resident status in Canada. Applicants with permanent resident status must have lived in Canada as a permanent resident for three of the last five years. The National Police Federation says the RCMP should follow the lead of the Canadian Armed Forces, which in 2022 opened applications to permanent residents without any requirement on time spent in Canada. Federation president Brian Sauvé said he's 'pretty sure we can attract some good talent' through a similar move by the RCMP. Sauvé compares the idea to federal immigration programs that seek to entice skilled workers to come to Canada. 'If this government has identified public safety, border security and all that stuff as an imperative, we can do the same thing, right?' Sauvé said in a recent interview. 'We have equivalency training. You can come from Manchester, you can come from New South Wales, you can come from, I don't know, the FBI. And we'll train you to be equivalent, to give you a job and put you in a role.' The proposal is one of several ideas the police federation presented in a June report aimed at improving the RCMP's recruitment practices, funding model, training programs and procurement. The federation says independent reports over the past two decades have offered the federal government clear guidance on how to improve RCMP operations in these areas. 'Yet time and again, these recommendations have been met with inaction or insufficient follow-through,' the June report says. 'As a result, long-standing issues persisted and were allowed to worsen.' Public Safety Canada spokesperson Max Watson said the department is committed to working with the RCMP and others to ensure the force 'is equipped to meet evolving public safety needs.' The federation is calling for a streamlined and modernized RCMP application processing system, more training capacity and an increase in the cadet training allowance to about $1,200 a week from the current $525. The federation says it wants more flexibility for some new recruits, such as people from other law enforcement agencies, to make it easier for them to fit into the RCMP. For instance, the federation notes only serving or recently inactive police officers can apply through the RCMP's three-week experienced police officer program, provided they meet strict criteria. That excludes a large pool of well-trained public safety personnel, including members of the Canada Border Services Agency, provincial sheriffs, conservation officers and other law enforcement agents who may not meet the threshold, the report says. Forcing these candidates to repeat a full 26-week training program at the RCMP training depot 'creates a barrier to recruitment and results in missed opportunities to bring skilled, experienced candidates into the RCMP,' the report adds. It also says the federal procurement process is too slow and unresponsive to the urgent needs of modern policing, and drains valuable government resources. 'Delays in rolling out life-saving equipment, including service pistols, body armour and body-worn cameras, threaten both officer safety and public trust,' the report says. During the spring election campaign, the Liberals promised to recruit 1,000 more RCMP personnel to tackle drug and human trafficking, foreign interference, cybercrime and car thefts by organized crime. The Liberals also pledged to create a new RCMP academy in Regina and increase pay for cadet recruits. Watson acknowledged the promise to hire more Mounties and said Public Safety recognizes the importance of cadet pay in broader efforts to support recruitment and retention. The RCMP did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication. The police force has been told to trim two per cent of its budget as part of a governmentwide cost-cutting exercise. Sauvé said he is 'cautiously optimistic' the Liberal government will follow through on its commitment to strengthen law enforcement, set out in a May mandate letter. The RCMP provides policing services through contracts with all provinces and territories, except Ontario and Quebec. RCMP policing agreements cover much of rural Canada, all of the North and many towns and municipalities in contract provinces. The police federation acknowledges that some continue to ask whether the RCMP should shed its contract policing role across Canada and become more like the FBI by focusing on federal criminal matters. In March, before Mark Carney became prime minister, the Liberals published a paper outlining a new vision for the RCMP. It suggested the force concentrate on federal policing, reflecting its 'essential mandate and where it is best placed to lead investigations.' The federation flatly rejects the idea. 'The RCMP's integrated pan-Canadian policing model remains one of its greatest strengths, due to its ability to leverage co-ordination, consistency and efficiency across all jurisdictions,' the June report says. It argues that moving away from the current model 'would create deep service gaps, duplication and costly public safety and economic inefficiencies with no evidence of better results.' The federation calls for dedicated funding for federal policing, saying RCMP officers carrying out those duties must no longer be used to backstop vacancies in contract jurisdictions. 'Federal assets should be used solely for federal mandates,' the report says. 'If federal members are redeployed for non-federal purposes, those services must be cost-recovered from contract partners.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 9, 2025.
