November 1, 2018

Winnipeg Police Service Media Release

For Immediate Release

Project Riverbank "Inter-Provincial Illicit Drug Network Dismantled"

Illicit drug use presents an urgent and growing threat to our community and public health. Illegal drugs, such as methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and ketamine continue to be a risk to the safety and well-being of all citizens. Addiction, property crime, and acts of violence are often a result of the drug subculture.



In order to combat the current crisis, the Winnipeg Police Service has implemented an Illicit Drug Strategy that includes elements of enforcement, intervention, awareness, and education.

One of the primary goals of the WPS Organized Crime Division is to disrupt the illicit drug market through enforcement. The Organized Crime Division initiated Project Riverbank in early 2018. This investigation targeted a sophisticated criminal drug network that supplied a variety of illicit drugs through a supply chain across the western provinces including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.



As the scope of the investigation expanded inter-provincially, the Service partnered with the RCMP and other law enforcement agencies to assist with this complex organized crime investigation. The nearly 10-month investigation concluded on October 18, 2018, where a total of 16 search warrants were executed across the prairie provinces; 8 residences in Winnipeg, 4 in Regina, 1 in Edmonton and 2 residences and 1 additional property in lower mainland of British Columbia.



The execution of the search warrants required more than 300 police members working collectively across Western Canada. One hundred and fifty-eight (158) WPS members and thirty-five (35) RCMP members were involved in arrests and search warrants in Winnipeg. Twenty (20) Edmonton Police Service members and 1 WPS member assembled in Edmonton, and a fifty-six (56) RCMP member team was required in British Columbia to execute search warrants. Additionally, thirty-one (31) members of the Regina Police Service executed 4 search search warrants independently that related back to information that was obtained during this project.

The following 10 adults were arrested and charged with a total of 156 criminal code offences related to conspiracy and trafficking of a controlled substance, firearms, and proceeds of crime.

Mohammad Shakil Khan, 39 yrs. of Vancouver, BC

Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Ketamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Proceeds of Crime) x 3



Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000



Possession Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000



Assault



Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine)



Possession of a Weapon



Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized



Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition



Careless Storage of a Firearm, Weapon Prohibited Device or Ammunition



Possession of a Firearm, Prohibited or Restricted Weapon Obtained by Crime



Possession of a Firearm, Restricted/Prohibited Weapon or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order x 2

Mason Joaquin Burg, 24 yrs. of Winnipeg, MB

Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Ketamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Proceeds of Crime) x 3



Possession Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000



Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine)



Possession of a Weapon



Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm



Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition



Careless Storage of a Firearm, Weapon, Prohibited Device or Ammunition



Assault



Possession of a Firearm, Prohibited or Restricted Weapon Obtained by Crime



Extortion

Allan Ronald Rodney, 70 yrs. of Surrey, BC

Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Ketamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Heroin) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Methamphetamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (MDMA Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Proceeds of Crime) x 3



Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine)



Possession Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 x 2



Possession Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000

Shontal Vaupotic, 32 yrs. of Surrey, BC

Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Ketamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Heroin) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Methamphetamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (MDMA Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Proceeds of Crime) x 3



Possession Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 x 2



Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine)

Herbert Mejia-Orellana-Delgado, 29 yrs. of Edmonton, AB

Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Ketamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Heroin) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Methamphetamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (MDMA Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Proceeds of Crime) x 3



Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Selling (Cannabis)(Edmonton)



Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine)(Edmonton)



Possession Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000 (Edmonton)

Daniel Jason Finkbeiner, 30 yrs. of Winnipeg, MB

Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Ketamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Heroin) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Methamphetamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (MDMA Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Proceeds of Crime) x 3



Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine)



Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Heroin)



Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Selling (Cannabis)



Possession Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000

Lisa Dawn Hallson 32, yrs. of Winnipeg, MB

Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Ketamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Heroin) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Methamphetamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (MDMA Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Proceeds of Crime) x 3



Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine) x 2



Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Methamphetamine)



Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Heroin)



Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Oxycodone)



Possession Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000

Amanda Marie Borges, 27 yrs. of Winnipeg, MB

Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Ketamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Heroin) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Methamphetamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (MDMA Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Proceeds of Crime) x 3



Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine)



Possession Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000



Possession of a Weapon



Fail to Comply with Probation Order x 4



Fail to Comply Conditions of an Undertaking



Darci Ann Geiger, 33 yrs. of Winnipeg, MB



Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Ketamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Heroin) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Methamphetamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (MDMA Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) x 2



Conspiracy to Traffic (Proceeds of Crime) x 3

William Junior Fuller, 22 yrs of Winnipeg, MB

Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x 2



Possession of Scheduled Substance (Cocaine)

Manitoba Seizures and Values



Cash: Cash total (approximate) $121,000 Firearms Walther P99 9mm semi-automatic

handgun and ammunition Drugs seized in MB: 3 kg Methamphetamine $105,000 11 kg Cocaine $660,000 2 kg Ketamine $14,000 6 oz Heroin $42,000 4.5 lb Marihuana $9,000 21 kg of cutting agent $14,700 20 Oxycodone Pills $800

Total Street Value Drug seized $845,500 Vehicles seized in MB: 2019 Volvo Tractor $266,000 2018 Ford F450 $91,000 2013 Construction Trailer $7,500 2002 Subaru $3,500 2010 Honda Civic $4,500 2011 BMW 328xi $10,000 2014 Chev Camaro $16,000 2013 Nissan Sentra $6,000 Value of vehicles seized $404,500

British Columbia Seizures and Values



Cash: Cash total (approximate) $250,000 Vehicles Seized in BC: 2018 Dodge Ram 3500 $90,000 2018 Dodge Durango $50,000 2017 Porsche 911 $160,000 2018 BMW M4 $78,000 2016 McLaren 650s $400,000 2018 Harley Davidson $25,000 2016 Open Range Trailer $75,000 Sting Ray Boat $50,000 2014 Karavan Boat Trailer $3,000 2016 Mercedes CLA250 $30,000 2004 Suzuki GSXR $5,000

Value of vehicles seized $966,000

Alberta Seizures and Values

Drugs, Vehicles and Cash Seized in AB 2017 Jeep Cherokee $13,000 2 oz Cocaine $4,000 4 lb of Marihuana $8,000 Cash $2,000

Total value of seizures in AB $27,000

Saskatchewan Seizures and Values

Drugs, Vehicles and Cash Seized in SK: 2005 Chevrolet Corvette $20,000 1999 Ford F150 $5,000 1 kg Methamphetamine $35,000 333 g Psilocybin $5,000 22 g Cocaine $1,760 Cash $5,740 Total value of seizures in SK $72,500

In summary the combined value of drugs, property, and cash seized is approximately $2.7 million. (Drugs seized - $899,260; vehicles seized - $1,408,500; cash seized - $378,740.)

This investigation demonstrates the ability of the WPS Organized Crime Division to collaborate with other law enforcement agencies and prosecutions to detect, disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations.

The Winnipeg Police Service would like to acknowledge the support of other involved police agencies that assisted with this investigation: the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Vancouver Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, and Regina Police Service.

Assault - Arrests: C18-241095

On October 31, 2018, at approximately 4:45 p.m., Winnipeg Police was alerted to a male on a transit bus armed with a knife in the area of Osborne Street and York Avenue. Prior to police arrival transit advised that the suspect was engaged in a struggle with another male on the bus.

Upon arrival, officers encountered an adult male attempting to hold the suspect, a youth male, and a female youth attacking the adult male. Upon being taken into custody, the male youth became violent, resisting arrest and the female youth spit at and threatened an officer.

The adult male who intervened received minor injuries and did not require medical attention. No passengers were injured during the incident.

Both youths were intoxicated and taken to hospital as a precaution. Both were released and have been charged.

A 17-year-old male of Winnipeg has been charged with:

Assault

Resist Peace Officer

Possess Weapon

Causing a Disturbance

A 15-year-old female of Winnipeg has been charged with:

Obstruct Peace Officer

Utter Threats X2

Fail to Comply with Sentence

Assault Peace Officer

Assault

Both have been detained at the Manitoba Youth Centre.

Drug - Arrest: C18-158642

On July 21, 2018 members of the Winnipeg Police Service attended to a Community Correctional Centre on Main Street in response to a male with a Canada wide warrant for parole revocation. The male was taken into custody and returned to Stony Mountain Institution.

On July 23, 2018, Correctional officers cleaned the room where the inmate was lodged and located approximately 18 ounces of Methamphetamine; a street value of approximately $12,000.00. Winnipeg Police was contacted and officers attended and seized the drugs.

On October 31, 2018, Daniel Leonard HUDDLESTONE, a 39-year-old male, was arrested while still in custody and charged with Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking. He remains in custody.

MISSING PERSON – Madison MORRISSEAU – R180063100

The Winnipeg Police Service is requesting the public’s assistance in locating missing a 17-year-old female, Madison MORRISSEAU.

MORRISSEAU was last seen in the Downtown area of Winnipeg during the afternoon of September 24, 2018.

MORRISSEAU is described as Indigenous with a thin build, approx.150 lbs, 5'7" in height, brown, straight, medium-length hair & brown eyes. MORRISSEAU was last seen wearing grey Adidas leggings, a red hoodie & black & white Nike runners.

The Winnipeg Police Service is concerned about MORRISSEAU's well-being and is asking anyone with any information regarding her whereabouts to contact the

Winnipeg Police Service Missing Persons Unit at 204-986-6250.

Last Update November 1, 2018 ->