In the fall of 2023, the Winnipeg Police Service’s Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), with the assistance of the Morden and Winkler Police Services, entered into a drug trafficking investigation. Police revealed a drug trafficking operation in Winnipeg that extended into the Morden/Winkler areas, seizing over $600,000 of illicit drugs, loaded firearms and over $50,000 in cash.
On January 24, 2024, DEU, with the assistance of the Tactical Support Team, executed search warrants involving three residences and vehicles within the city:
- the 700 block of Scotland Avenue
- the 1100 block of St. Anne’s Road
- the 600 block of Talbot Avenue
The Winnipeg Police Service took three individuals from Winnipeg into custody.
A 30-year-old male, Justin Lewis RANCOURT, was charged with 11 drug trafficking and firearms offences.
A 24-year-old male, Nikita KUANDYKOV and a 19-year-old male, Omar TALIB, were also charged with drug trafficking offences.
All the accused were detained in custody.
The Morden and Winkler Police Services subsequently executed two search warrants in their area, taking two individuals into custody.
As a result of this collaborative investigation, the following items were seized:
- 2 prohibited handguns and ammunition
- 1 stun gun
- 1 kilogram of fentanyl (estimated street value of $500,000)
- 1 kilogram of cocaine (estimated street value of $100,000)
- 54 Xanax pills (estimated street value of $540)
- $54,000 Canadian currency
- drug packaging materials
- 10 cellular devices