A 24-year-old man from Vita is facing drug trafficking related charges following an investigation by the Winnipeg Police Service.
In August 2024, the WPS Guns and Gangs Unit entered into an investigation regarding a criminal network trafficking cocaine in Winnipeg and within northern First Nations communities.
According to a statement from WPS, on September 19th, members of the Guns & Gangs Unit conducted a traffic stop at St. Mary’s Road and Hull Avenue. Three males were taken into custody, and the following items were seized as a result of the investigation:
- Approximately 834 individually wrapped grams of cocaine
- 66 grams of various sizes of packaged cocaine
- $1,965 Canadian currency
- Two vehicles
- Drug packaging and trafficking materials
- A Stolen identification document
- Luggage
- Airline tickets
Police say the Vita man was charged with drug trafficking offences and detained in custody.
A 26-year-old from Winnipeg and a 27-year-old from Penticton, British Columbia were also charged.
According the WPS, the seized illicit drugs had an estimated street value of approximately $70,000 within the northern First Nations communities.
It is believed this cocaine trafficking criminal network operates interprovincially, and the seized illicit drugs that police intercepted were destined to be flown to northern First Nation communities.
The investigation is still ongoing. Anyone who wishes to speak to an investigator can call the Guns & Gangs Unit at 204-986-8430 or anonymously at Crime Stoppers 204-786-TIPS or winnipegcrimestoppers.org.