An operation that spanned three cities, utilized more than 100 Winnipeg cops, and lasted 18 months has led to the arrest of 14 people allegedly linked to high-level drug trafficking.

Police say the covert operation, dubbed Project Sideshow, has decimated an organized gang of drug dealers.

“The impact for this particular group is that their ability to grow and prosper has been crippled by this operation,” said Staff Sgt. Rob Harding.

The operation began in the spring of 2012 with the organized crime unit targeting an organized crime group with high-end players that operate across Canada. The group was importing cocaine, meth, and ecstasy into Winnipeg for further distribution, said police, adding the gang included “the highest-level drug traffickers in Winnipeg.”

The investigation culminated in 19 simultaneous raids on Feb. 5, including addresses on St. Anne’s Road, Harrowby Avenue, Magnus Avenue, and Market Avenue in the Exchange District. Of the 14 arrested, nine are from Winnipeg, one is from Howden, Man., three are from B.C., and one suspect splits her time between Winnipeg and Toronto.

“The bulk of cocaine and other drugs come from British Columbia,” Harding said of the B.C connection, adding traffickers from Winnipeg often have strong connections to B.C

In addition to the drugs, police said their investigation revealed the suspects were allegedly using privately-owned ATMs from four Winnipeg establishments to launder money. Police seized six ATM machines in total.

Harding couldn’t say if the owners of the establishments were aware of what was going on, but said three of the places were liquor establishments, “where our targets are known to frequent and their associates.”

Although the Feb. 5 raid wasn’t the largest in Winnipeg police history, Harding said the quantity of cash and drugs observed during the course of the investigation was significant.

“As far as scope of project goes, this is probably one of the longer running investigations and we certainly saw a great quantity of drugs and cash changing hands compared to other projects,” he said.

During the course of Project Sideshow, police say they observed 92 kilograms of cocaine, worth $5 million, being trafficked, as well as 3.5 kilograms of meth worth $192,000, a kilogram of ecstasy valued at $20,000, and more than $4.3 million in cash from drug sales.

Of that, police said they seized five kilograms of cocaine, more than $300,000 in cash, 1.5 kilograms of ecstasy, and other drugs and weapons during their raids earlier this month.

WHAT WAS SEIZED:

$301,800 in cash

More than five kilograms of cocaine

1.5 kilograms of ecstasy

17 ounces of Ketamine

Three pounds of marijuana

More than eight kilograms of cutting agent

Drug-trafficking paraphernalia

9mm semi-automatic handgun

Sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun

Olympic arms assault rifle

Ammunitions and magazines

Ballistic vest

Nine vehicles, including one motorcycle

Six ATM machines (from four locations)

WHO IS CHARGED

Ronald Baldovi, 35, Port Coquitlam, B.C.

Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x8

Traffic in a scheduled substance x3

Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000

Possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking x3

Possess of property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking

Carol Villanueva Banayos, 32, Winnipeg

Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence x4

Ronald George Morrison, 67, Winnipeg

Possess for the purpose of trafficking — cocaine x2

Trafficking cocaine

Trafficking proceeds of crime

Possess for the purpose of trafficking proceeds of crime over $5,000

Trafficking proceeds of crime over $5,000

Possess proceeds of crime x2

Rayan Dizon, 35, Winnipeg

Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x8

Traffic in scheduled substance x3 (meth, ecstasy, cocaine)

Possess property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking;

Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000

Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000

Possess for the purpose of trafficking marijuana

Possess for the purpose of trafficking cocaine

Possess for the purpose of trafficking MDMA (ecstasy)

Possess proceeds of Crime over $5,000

Possess firearm & ammunition for purpose of trafficking

Trafficking in a firearm, device or ammunition

Possession of firearm or ammunition for the purpose of trafficking

Possession of firearm with altered serial number

Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm

Possession of firearm or ammunition for the purpose of trafficking x3

Trafficking in a firearm, weapon device or ammunition

Careless storage of a firearm x3

Possession of weapon for a dangerous purpose x3

Possession of firearm without a license x3

Possession of firearm without registration certificate x3

Possession of prohibited firearm with ammunition

Possession of firearm obtained by criminal offence;

Possession of prohibited devices (high capacity magazine) x 5.

Oliver Villanueva Banayos, 36, Winnipeg

Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x8

Trafficking cocaine

Trafficking property obtained by crime over $5,000

Possess cocaine for the purpose of trafficking

Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000

Possess proceeds of crime x2

Philip Manh Nguyen, 28, Winnipeg

Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x4

Trafficking cocaine

Possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking x2

Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000

Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking;

Lindsey Lafrenais, 32, Winnipeg

Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x8;

Possess property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking;

Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000

Possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking x3 (cocaine, meth, ecstasy)

Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000

Traffic in a scheduled substance x3 (cocaine, meth, ecstasy)

Possess for the purpose of trafficking x3 (cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana)

Possess proceeds of crime over $5,000

Baljinder Singh, 33, Winnipeg

Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x10

Traffick in a scheduled substance x3

Possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking x3

Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000

Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking

Trafficking in a firearm, weapon, device or ammunition

Possess ballistic vest without a license

Possess proceeds of crime under $5,000

Narinder Singh, 39, Winnipeg

Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x6;

Traffic in a scheduled substance — cocaine

Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000

Possess a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking x2

Possess property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking;

Trafficking methamphetamine

Chandeep Singh Dhaliwal, 28, Howden, Man.

Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence x5

Traffic in a Scheduled Substance to with Cocaine

Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking x2

Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000

Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 for the Purpose of Trafficking

Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence x2

Trafficking a firearm, weapon & ammunition x2

Possess firearm while prohibited.

Timothy Fuller, 46, Vancouver, B.C.

Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x8

Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000

Possess property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking

Traffic in a scheduled substance x3

Possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking x3

Cara Melissa Smith, 33, Vancouver, B.C.

Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x8

Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000

Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking

Trafficking in a scheduled substance x3

Possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking x3

Vanessa Gillies, 27, Toronto/Winnipeg

Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence x4

Possess proceeds of crime over $5,000

Possess cocaine for the purpose of trafficking

Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000

Trafficking cocaine

Possess property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking

Ryan Michael Dimaala, 32, Winnipeg

Possess cocaine for the purpose of trafficking

Possess proceeds of crime over $5,000