Premier Wab Kinew looks on as Matt Wiebe, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Keeper of the Great Seal of the Province of Manitoba, Minister responsible for the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation, is sworn-in by Lt. Gov. Anita Neville at a swearing-in ceremony in Winnipeg, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods)
Drug dealers are using Manitoba’s casinos to launder their money after they sell their goods, and will begin cracking down on the practice, says the provincial government.
“Drug dealers often use casinos to launder their cash and we are making it easier for law enforcement to track down people bringing toxic drugs into our communities,” said Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew Monday.
“Fentanyl has had a devastating impact on Manitobans and people attempting to profit off it need to be held accountable.”
Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries casinos will now be told to report suspicious transaction records to Winnipeg police and the RCMP, along with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, said Justice Minister Matt Wiebe.
It brings the province into alignment with standard practices in Ontario and B.C.
“Our government has been cracking down on drug traffickers since day one,” said Wiebe. “Today’s announcement adds another layer of protection for Manitobans against money laundering.”
