A two year investigation by the RCMP into the importation and trafficking of cocaine concluded this past week, resting in multiple arrests of individuals from both Manitoba and Ontario. These individuals were involved in the importation and subsequent distribution of cocaine.
The evidence gathered in this investigation revealed that a criminal group was moving large amounts of cocaine from Mexico into Canada. During the course of the investigation, police seized over two kilograms of cocaine as well as identified sophisticated concealment methods which enabled the cocaine shipments to cross international borders undetected.
On Thursday, July 28m 2016, officers from the Manitoba RCMP executed a search warrant at a rural property near Rosenort, Manitoba. The same day, Ontario RCMP, along with members of CBSA, Essex County OPP and Chatham-Kent Police Service executed several releated search warrants in the Leamington area.
RCMP report that the following persons have been charged with various crimes related to the conspiracy, importation and trafficking of cocaine under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Charged are 35-year-old Frank Banman of Rosenort, 48-year-old Daniel Thiessen, 29-year-old Jacob Thiessen and 56-year-old Jay Shanks, all of Leamington, Ontario.
“The result of this joint investigation demonstrates that provincial and international borders do not insulate organized crime from prosecution,” said Inspector Tim Olmstead of the Manitoba RCMP. “This also re-enforces the fact that the RCMP and its partner agencies work effectively together to keep illicit drugs out of our communities.”
Manitoba RCMP would like to thank their law enforcement partner agencies across Canada, for their invaluable assistance in bringing a successful resolution to this matter.
