A man was arrested in the RM of Springfield involved in what police call "high-level drug trafficking rings". RCMP Federal, Serious and Organized Crime investigators uncovered his illicit drug operations and money-laundering crimes.
James Robert McGirr, 39, is facing numerous charges after police linked him to several different drug trafficking operations. The RCMP’s Project Divergent, concluded in March 2022, with 22 people arrested for drug trafficking offences. As a result of that investigation, inroads to other drug networks were discovered, and Project Decrypt was initiated, resulting in seven arrests.
In April 2021, Project Decrypt began by looking at the trafficking of large amounts of illicit cannabis. As the investigation progressed, investigators learned that McGirr had fraudulently acquired a Health Canada licence for a micro-grow operation. He was also using legitimate personal Health Canada medical licences under the names of those working with him to feed his criminal networks with the cannabis he was growing.
Investigators of his operation discovered he was laundering his profits by converting cash to cryptocurrency. He purchased digital money and transferred it into a cryptocurrency account. He then assisted others through the same process.
On June 8, 2023, 10 properties associated with McGirr were searched in the RM of Springfield, Sunnyside, Navin, and seven in Winnipeg. Another Winnipeg property was searched in August of this year,
Police found and seized:
- More than $6 million in drugs, equipment, and proceeds of crime.
- More than $3 million in property.
- More than $2 million in illicit cannabis.
- Almost $700,000 in drug and cryptocurrency equipment.
- More than $203,000 in lifestyle items.
- More than $15,000 in Canadian currency.
- And seven firearms.
McGirr was arrested at his residence in the RM of Springfield when the search was executed. Daniel Erenberg, 33, was arrested at the search of his residence in Winnipeg. Five of McGirr’s associates were arrested throughout June in Winnipeg, and one in September.
“The suspect in this investigation was obtaining Health Canada medical cannabis grow licences through fraudulent means and growing vast amounts of illicit cannabis to sell through a criminal network, and then he was converting that ill-gotten cash into cryptocurrency to fund his lavish lifestyle and other criminal enterprise,” said Inspector Joe Telus, RCMP Intelligence Officer. “We see, through Project Divergent and Project Decrypt, how these networks feed off each other and are interconnected. We are not targeting legal users of cannabis. These large-scale operations are producing illicit product and feeding criminal networks, and the RCMP will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt those networks.”
McGirr is facing:
- Five Cannabis Act charges
- Five Criminal Code charges, including:
- Fraud Over $5000,
- Identity Fraud,
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime,
- Laundering Proceeds of Crime,
- and False Pretences.
Erenberg ran the medical grow operation and is facing charges under the Cannabis Act.
Jordan Fletcher, 33, of Ste. Anne, acted as a courier in the operation and is charged under the Cannabis Act.
Jamar Smith, 42, of Winnipeg, was a grower for the medical licence grow operation and is charged under the Cannabis Act.
Brett Little, 33, of Winnipeg, got the Health Canada micro-grow licence and is charged under the Criminal Code with Fraud Over $5000.
Raymond McGirr, 71 of Winnipeg, a relation to James McGirr, is facing firearms charges under the Criminal Code.
Michael Heckl Junior was a property owner where the illicit medical grow was taking place. His charges are stayed as he is now deceased.
All have been released from custody pending court dates.
The RCMP acknowledges the support of its partners in this investigation: Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), Forensic Accounting Management Group (FAMG), Civil Property Forfeiture, and Seized Property Management Directorate.
In response to Canada's Online News Act and Meta (Facebook and Instagram) removing access to local news from their platforms, PortageOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the PortageOnline app.