Winnipeg police have dealt a significant blow to what they call the city's most powerful street gang, punctuating a nine-month investigation with a major bust on Main Street late last week.

Project Falling Star, initiated in April 2013, is being credited with a seizure that led to 57 arrests of Manitoba Warriors and associates, as well as the seizure of cocaine, guns, and thousands of dollars in cash.

Members of the police street crime unit, the tactical support team, and uniform patrol executed a search warrant at a building in the 700-block of Main Street on Jan. 16. Police seized 824 rocks of crack cocaine with a street value of $16,480, 2.5 ounces of powder cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana, as well as $13,500 in cash.

"Manitoba Warriors have been on our radar for some time now," Staff Sgt. Max Waddell said. "I think any time you arrest 57 individuals that are gang members and/or associates, it's going to have a defined impact.

"Firearms charges, drug charges, seizing cash, other weapons, so I believe it is an impact on the organization to function moving forward."

Waddell said it's difficult to pinpoint what percentage of the Warriors membership was hit with the arrests and said the arrests encompass "various ranks within the hierarchy."

Police also released mugshots of a man and woman who are still wanted by police. Arrest warrants have been issued for Monica Marie Thomas, 34, and Connor Todd Sech, 19. Thomas is wanted on two counts of cocaine trafficking and two counts of failure to comply with a recognizance order. Sech is wanted on a count of cocaine trafficking.

Police said a 17-year-old boy is also still outstanding.

Waddell addressed the police service's shift in philosophy under Chief Devon Clunis. Waddell said police are now putting greater efforts towards crime prevention at younger ages, targeting at-risk youths in an attempt to steer them away from gang culture.

"A success is if we can measure where we are today, look forward into the future and if there are less siblings joining gangs, to me that is success," Waddell said. "Unfortunately, some of the older ones involved, it's going to be a hard cycle to break, but we need to reach out to those younger children to show them there is a better life other than joining a street gang."

THE ACCUSED

Arrested as a result of evidence gathered at Jan. 16 raid at location on 700-block of Main Street:

Robert Henry, 51

Michael Flett, 49

Ryan Williams, 35

Nelson Murdock, 44

Deidra Berens, 29

Arrested as a result of nine-month investigation:

Corrine Hogan, 49

Dakota Saskowski, 20

Mark Parkhill, 50

Matthew Hollohan, 30

Harkinder Gill, 42

Matthew Moore, 32

Kyle Henry, 24

Eduardo Campos, 23

Timothy Durocher, 23

Kathleen Shellrude, 37

Justin Pranteau, 22

Robert Muminawatum, 28

Amanda Parisian, 27

Vanessa Bone, 21

Robert Champagne, 31

Desi Courchene, 27

* Three youths have also been charged, while another male youth is still outstanding

Arrest warrants issued for:

Monica Marie Thomas, 34

Connor Todd Sech, 19

DRUGS SEIZED:

824 rocks of crack cocaine (1/4 grams a piece) — street value $16,480

2.5 ounces of powder cocaine — street value $ 4500

3 grams methamphetamine — street value $600

140 grams of marijuana — street value $1400



CASH SEIZED:

$13,500



FIREARMS SEIZED:

Loaded sawed-off pump action shotgun with shortened stock

Loaded sawed-off 12 gauge shotgun

Stevens Loaded sawed off 12 gauge shotgun

Sawed off 12 gauge break action shotgun

Smith and Wesson .357 magnum revolver handgun

Maverick 12 gauge shotgun

Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun

Winchester model 34 33-30 rifle

CBC .22 calibre rifle

Cooey model 38-22 calibre rifle

12 gauge pump action shotgun

12 gauge shotgun

2 pellet guns

Air soft gun

1 stock and barrel for a Maverick 12 gauge shotgun

1 stock and 1 barrel for a Cooey shotgun



AMMUNITION SEIZED:

(65) 12-gauge shot gun shells

(12) .38 Special ammunition shells



BALLISTIC VESTS:

1 military fragmentation ballistic vest

3 ballistic vests

1 Manitoba Warrior ballistic vest



ADDITIONAL ITEMS SEIZED: