Manitoba RCMP are reporting that as part of a recent joint law enforcement effort, 19 prolific and violent offenders were arrested and charged.

Officers with the Manitoba Integrated Violent Offender Apprehension Unit (MIVOAU), an integrated team consisting of Manitoba RCMP and Winnipeg Police Service officers, and the RCMP Manitoba Integrated Legal Enforcement Team (MILET), travelled to the Island Lake RCMP Detachment area where, over the course of three days, conducted operations targeting prolific and violent offenders with outstanding warrants for their arrest.

RCMP say that over these three days, a total of 19 accused were located and arrested without incident. Five of the accused were arrested in Kitiganwacheeng (Garden Hill First Nation), seven in Minithayinikam (St. Theresa Point First Nation) and seven in Wasagamack First Nation.

“The goals we have set out for our unit are simple, take as many prolific and violent offenders off the streets as possible to make these communities feel safer,” said Sgt. James Ries. “Once again, I believe we’ve accomplished this with the number of accused we removed from the communities. Yes, we still have a lot of work to do but we’re up for the challenge.”

The Manitoba Integrated Violent Offender Apprehension Unit (MIVOAU) continues to investigate.