December 23, 2019

Winnipeg Police Service Media Release

For Immediate Release

Project Highland — Interprovincial Organized Crime Network Dismantled

In April of 2019, the Winnipeg Police Service began an investigation into a sophisticated interprovincial organized crime network.

The primary criminal activities of this organized crime group involved the transportation of multiple kilograms of cocaine, opioids, and significant amounts of illegal cannabis and tobacco from Southern Ontario into the City of Winnipeg.

The investigation grew, leading to the Winnipeg Police Service Organized Crime Unit, in collaboration with the Ontario Provincial Police, and the Province of Manitoba Finance and Taxation, to initiate Project Highland.

On December 18, 2019, eight search warrants were simultaneously executed in the City of Winnipeg, rural Manitoba, and the Province of Ontario.

As a result of the search warrants, ten adults were arrested and charged with 34 criminal code offences related to conspiracy and trafficking of a controlled substance, proceeds of crime, unlawful possession of cannabis, posses not Manitoba marked Tobacco.

The following items were seized:

Approximately $120,000.00 cash

13 kilograms of cocaine

Street value of $1.3 million



Bulk value of $800,000.00

45 lbs of illegal cannabis

Bulk value of $ 126,000



Street value of $ 190,680

21 bags of cannabis edibles - gummies

Street value of $1,050

246 cases of cigarettes

2.46 million individual cigarettes



Lost tax value of $739,326



Potential triple tax penalty $2,217,978



Street value of $492,884



Bulk value of $147,600

824 alprazolam (xanax) bars

Street value of $4,120

362 grams of ecstasy (MDMA)

Street value of $14,480

370 grams of psilocybin (mushrooms)

Street value of $7,400

185 grams benzocaine (cutting agent)

Street value of $1,320

Three digital money counters

Scales, score sheets, drug packaging material, and vacuum sealing equipment

Cannabis extraction press

17 mobile communication devices

400 rounds of 22 caliber ammunition

57 rounds of 726 caliber ammunition

2017 Jaguar FPACE R-Sport 35T (approx. value $50,000)

2015 Lexus NX 200T (approx.. value $30,000)

2011 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS (approx. value $10,000)

2019 Ford F150 (approx. value $45,000)

2014 Dodge Ram 1500 with hidden compartment (approx. value $25,000)

2007 Great 741 30 ft. enclosed trailer (approx. value $15,000)



Stephen PIERPOINT, 32 years, of Aurora, Ontario has been charged with:

Possess for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine

Possess proceeds of crime over $5000

Conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance – cocaine

Curtis HIBBERT, 34 years, of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

Conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance – cocaine

Conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance – Oxycodone

Conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance – Xanax

Possess for the purpose of trafficking – Oxycodone

Possess proceeds of crime over $5000

Unlawful possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution contrary to section 9(2) of the Cannabis Act

Possess for the purpose of sale, a tobacco product that is not stamped, contrary to section 121.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada

Samantha GUNN, 25 years, of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

Possess proceeds of crime over $5000

Unlawful possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution contrary to section 9(2) of the Cannabis Act

Possess for the purpose of sale, a tobacco product that is not stamped, contrary to section 121.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada

Darryan EDWARDS, 24 years, of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

Possess for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine

Possess proceeds of crime under $5000

Safa ALLEN, 37 years, of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

Charges:

Possess for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine

Possess proceeds of crime under $5000

Possess ammunition contrary to an order, section 117.01

Possess prohibited weapon

Laura LIPPAI 37 years, of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

Possess for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine

Possess proceeds of crime under $5000

Possess prohibited weapon

Jeremy RITCHOT, 34 years, of the RM of Tache, Manitoba, has been charged with:

Conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance – Ecstasy (MDMA)

Trafficking in a controlled substance – Alprazolam (Xanax)

Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Psilocybin

Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Alprazolam (Xanax)

Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Ecstasy (MDMA)

Possess proceeds of crime over $5000

Obtain cannabis by any method or process including by manufacturing, by synthesis or by using any means or altering the chemical or physical properties of cannabis, contrary to section 12.1 (a) of the Cannabis Act

Possess for the purpose of sale, a tobacco product that is not stamped, contrary to section 121.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada

Unlawful possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution contrary to section 9(2) of the Cannabis Act X 2

Rajvathanan RAJASEKARAN, 34 years, of Calgary, Alberta, has been charged with:

Unlawful possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution contrary to section 9(2) of the Cannabis Act

Transport a tobacco product that was not excise stamped contrary to section 121.1(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada

Posses not Manitoba marked Tobacco contrary to Section 80(2)(a) of the Taxation and Miscellaneous Taxes Act of Manitoba

Sinthusan SHANMUGANATHAN, 31 years, of Whitby, Ontario, has been charged with:

Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Cocaine

Possess proceeds of crime over $5000

Vinothan UTHAYAKUMAR, 36 years of Stouffville, Ontario, has been charged with:

Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Cocaine

Possess proceeds of crime over $5000

The result of this complex and highly sophisticated organized crime investigation demonstrates our ability as law enforcement and prosecutions to work collectively to detect, disrupt, and dismantle criminal organizations through targeted, proactive intelligence-led enforcement. The success of this investigation should be a reminder to those who wish to participate in organized crime that justice shall be served.

The success we share today would not be made possible without the assistance from the following organizations:

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)

Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau - Central

Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau – Community Street Crime Unit

Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau – North East and North West Division

Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau – Thunder Bay

OPP Dryden

Toronto Pearson Airport Intelligence

Canadian Border Services Agency

OPP Provincial Operational Intelligence Bureau

Province of Ontario Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Team

OPP Aurora Detachment

Ontario Ministry of Finance

Province of Manitoba Finance and Taxation

Public Prosecution Service of Canada

Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC)

RCMP Manitoba Emergency Response Team

Winnipeg Police Service

Organized Crime Unit

Guns and Gangs Unit

Drug Enforcement Unit

Tactical Support Unit

Canine Unit

Uniform Operations

Crime Analysis

Incident Command

Drug Offence – Arrest: R19-82695

During the evening of December 22, 2019, members of the Guns & Gangs Unit, with the assistance of the Tactical Support Team and the North District Community Support Unit, executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant at a suite of a residential building in the 300 block of Qu'Appelle Avenue.

A male suspect fled from the suite and attempted to hide on a roof, but was taken into custody. The investigation has led to the seizure of numerous items, including the following:

- A loaded .22 calibre handgun

- Two mobile phones

- $690 in Canadian currency

- A working scale

- Packaging materials

- Approximately 2.17 grams of cocaine (estimated street value of $220)

- Approximately 2.37 grams crack cocaine (estimated street value of $360)

Abdelgadr Said Omer, a 30-year-old male of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

- Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine

- Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000

- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm

- Possession of a Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm

- Possession of a Firearm Knowing Serial Number has been Tampered With

- Store Firearm or Restricted Weapon Contrary to Regulations

He was detained in custody.

Last Update: December 23, 2019