Winnipeg man charged in drug trafficking probe: Manitoba RCMP

CTV’s Jon Hendricks has more on the Manitoba RCMP making an arrest in connection to a drug trafficking network.

A 35-year-old Winnipeg man has been charged following an RCMP investigation into alleged drug trafficking involving cocaine and counterfeit pills containing heroin and a veterinary sedative.

Manitoba RCMP released the results of Project Deepwater Monday morning, a three-month investigation into an interprovincial trafficking network.

Supt. Jeff Asmundson with the RCMP’s Manitoba Integrated Law Enforcement Team said investigators found a suspect was allegedly distributing a large amount of cocaine and other drugs throughout the province.

“These drugs were brought in from other jurisdictions throughout the country,” he said.

On Feb. 5, two search warrants were executed at homes in Winnipeg’s Amber Gates neighbourhood, arresting a 35-year-old suspect.

Officers seized roughly $1.5 million worth of drugs and cash during the searches. The drugs seized included nine kilograms of cocaine, four kilograms of illicit cannabis and more than 7,000 counterfeit pills disguised as over-the-counter medication.

Lab analysis of the pills showed they contained a mix of heroin and medetomidine, a veterinary sedative that RCMP said creates a dangerous and potent combination that increases risks for users.

Asmundson said the counterfeit pills were the greatest concern for RCMP, saying it’s the first time they’ve seen the heroin/medetomidine combination in the province.

“Our concern is people on the street are going to be using these drugs that are being disguised as legitimate prescription drugs, and our concern is somebody is going to overdose and die,” he said.

Manitoba’s Justice Minister, Matt Wiebe, praised RCMP and police for their actions and said more needs to be done to stem the flow of drugs into Manitoba.

“This shows there is nothing more important than the safety of our communities,” he said. “Manitobans have had enough of these toxic drugs getting into our communities. We know that drugs bring violence, they bring disruption in communities, and they have no place in our province or Canada.”

A Winnipeg man has been charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of drug trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000, and has been detained in custody. None of the charges have been proven in court.

RCMP continues to investigate.