Illegal marijuana seized as part of Project Highland on December 18, 2019. (WPS / HANDOUT)
WINNIPEG — A large-scale investigation involving multiple police agencies has taken a significant amount of drugs off the streets from an organized crime network.
Project Highland began in April 2019 and recently resulted in the search of eight locations in Winnipeg, rural Manitoba and Ontario.
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Officers seized multiple kilograms of cocaine, opioids, and large amounts of illegal cannabis and tobacco from southern Ontario into the city of Winnipeg on December 18.
Police have arrested and charged 10 adults with 34 criminal code offences related to conspiracy and trafficking of a controlled substance, proceeds of crime, unlawful possession of cannabis, possession of non-Manitoba marked tobacco.
Police seized the following items:
- Approximately $120,000 cash
- 13 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $1.3 million (bulk value of $800,000)
- 45 lbs of illegal cannabis worth an estimated $190,680 (bulk value of $ 126,000)
- 21 bags of cannabis edibles (gummies) worth an estimated $1,050
- 246 cases of cigarettes — 2.46 million individual cigarettes worth $492,884 (lost tax value of $739,326)
- 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 calibre ammunition57 rounds of 726 calibre 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)
The Winnipeg police organized crime unit, Ontario Provincial Police, and the Province of Manitoba Finance and Taxation, were all involved in the coordination of Project Highland.
We will be live streaming our press conference at 11 am on our Facebook page. We will be releasing details on Project Highland. https://t.co/G6nbal5uq1 pic.twitter.com/CLwuzgjReM
— Winnipeg Police (@wpgpolice) December 23, 2019
