Winnipeg bust - drugs, guns and sex trafficking

The Winnipeg Free Press is reporting that "Winnipeg police are grappling with an explosion of guns, drugs and violence as organized criminal networks increasingly use Manitoba’s capital city as a national trafficking hub, due to its central location." Wait a minute. Justin Trudeau's freeze on legally obtained registered handguns has seen an explosion in illegal firearms? Imagine that.

"The news comes on the heels of more than a dozen arrests in Winnipeg and elsewhere in Canada — the result of a yearlong investigation targeting a drug network with potential international connections, dubbed Project Soft Landing. The operation launched in May 2023, after police determined millions of dollars worth of drugs and firearms were being transported to Winnipeg from the Greater Toronto Area." They don't use registered handguns to commit crime.

The Winnipeg Sun is reporting that "Items seized included $1.7 million cash plus about $4 million in proceeds of crime including 12 vehicles, including a $450,000 Rolls Royce, four Mercedes, two BMWs, a Lexus and a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Hall said police are also investigating an opportunity to claw back a $200,000 deposit for a Lamborghini. About 30 kilograms of cocaine was seized, with an estimated street value of $3 million, along with large quantities of street-level fentanyl and oxycodone, 75 kilograms of cutting agent Benzocaine, a hydraulic cocaine press and moulds." A Harley Davidson, imagine that. Winnipeg is Red and White.

"Also seized was a submachine gun with a suppressor, four handguns including two that were 3D printed, and loaded magazines and ammunition." They didn't make the barrels, chambers, magazines and firing mechanisms with a 3D printer. It's quite possible they made the stock with a 3D printer but the other parts they would have had to order in separately and I can tell you right now that sub machine gun was not a converted airsoft rifle. The Hells Angels gave Michael Plante an uzi over 20 years ago. (Last two paragrpahs)

CBC is reporting that "So far, 14 people have been charged with offences related to organized crime, drug trafficking, possession of firearms, proceeds of crime and laundering proceeds of crime. Of those, nine are from Winnipeg, two from Vancouver and three from Ontario."

CTV is reporitng that "According to police, the network used couriers, railways and bus lines to get drugs and guns into Winnipeg. Investigators found a number of suspects were also involved with sex trafficking, extortion and fraud in Winnipeg and across the country." Sex trafficking. I guess that ties in with Margo Compton's Audio Diaries on A&E as welll as the Janice Shore and Dianne Rock stories. This is nothing new. CTV listed the names of the 14 suspects arrested.