In the spring of 2022, the Winnipeg Police Service’s Organized Crime Unit began investigating the activities of a high-level Manitoba-based drug network.
The network was overseeing a group of drug traffickers and couriers, who were importing large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA from Ontario and British Columbia. The group utilized various importation methods, including commercial shipping, airline companies and highway-based drug couriers. Multi-kilogram amounts of those drugs were then distributed throughout Manitoba.
As a result, the Organized Crime Unit initiated an inter-provincial investigation named Project Onyx.
Numerous agencies assisted with the investigation, including the following:
- Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
- Coquitlam RCMP
- Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC)
- Manitoba Criminal Intelligence Centre (MCIC)
- Manitoba RCMP’s Emergency Response Team (ERT)
- Manitoba RCMP’s Federal Serious and Organized Crime (FSOC) Section
- Ontario Provincial Police (Peel Region)
- Vancouver Police Department’s Strike Force Unit
On December 14, 2022, a total of 26 Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) search warrants were executed:
- At ten residences in Winnipeg, Manitoba
- At one residence in Coquitlam, British Columbia
- At one residence in Niverville, Manitoba
- At two businesses in Winnipeg, Manitoba
- On twelve vehicles in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Many items were seized as a part of the investigation, including the following:
- Approximately $500,000 in cash
- 50 kilograms of cocaine (with an estimated street value of $5,000,000)
- 20 kilograms of methamphetamine (with an estimated street value of $2,000,000)
- A Smith & Wesson .40 calibre semi-automatic handgun with magazines and ammunition
- A loaded GSG 1911 .22 calibre semi-automatic handgun
- A Sig Sauer 9mm semi-automatic handgun with ammunition
In addition, twelve vehicles (worth an estimated $550,000) were seized, including a 2013 BMW X3, a BMW sedan, a 2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV and a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class SUV.
The Winnipeg Police Service is also currently reviewing the seizure of several properties.
Thirteen individuals have been arrested, and it is anticipated that additional charges will be laid later.
Devon Blair Creary, a 39-year-old male of Springfield, Manitoba, has been charged with:
- Traffic in Scheduled Substance
Biniam Mengistu Fitur, a 42-year-old male of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has been charged with:
- Traffic in Scheduled Substance
Cesare Pasquale Antonio Gaetano, a 51-year-old male of Toronto, Ontario, has been charged with:
- Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
- Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000
- Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
Stephanie Alexandrea Kabango, a 24-year-old female of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has been charged with:
- Traffic in Schedule Substance
- Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
Walid Khoudeda, a 25-year-old male of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has been charged with:
- Traffic in Scheduled Substance
Giancarlo Pacag Lana, a 25-year-old male of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has been charged with:
- Traffic in Scheduled Substance
Mouneer Mahboub Mohamed, a 28-year-old male of Niverville, Manitoba, has been charged with:
- Traffic in Scheduled Substance
- Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
- Possession of a Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm
- Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
- Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Weapon Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
- Possession of Firearm, Restricted/Prohibited Weapon or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order x 2
- Store Firearm or Restricted Weapon Contrary to Regulations x 2
Soumeya Mohamed, a 59-year-old female of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has been charged with:
- Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
- Possession of a Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm x 2
- Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Weapon
- Store Firearm or Restricted Weapon Contrary to Regulations x 2
Michael Steven Paul, a 43-year-old male of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has been charged with:
- Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
Omed Raqib, a 38-year-old male of Coquitlam, British Columbia, has been charged with:
- Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
Randi May Reyes, a 24-year-old female of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has been charged with:
- Traffic in Scheduled Substance
Chris Tavares Silva, a 47-year-old male of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has been charged with:
- Traffic in Schedule Substance
- Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
- Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
A 33-year-old female of Winnipeg is facing charges of:
- Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
- Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
The Organized Crime Unit would like to acknowledge the support of the law enforcement and government agencies that assisted with Project Onyx and the various Winnipeg Police Service units that contributed to the investigation.