Over the course of a 15-month investigation, numerous search warrants have been executed and charges ultimately brought against 14 individuals. The investigation was co-ordinated by the Manitoba Integrated Organized Crime Task Force (MIOCTF) comprised of Winnipeg Police Service, RCMP and Brandon Police Service investigators. The 15-month investigation targeted high-level drug trafficking and organized crime activities in the province of Manitoba, with connections to Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.
On December 10, 2014, MIOCTF, along with assistance from more than 200 police officers from the RCMP (Manitoba, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia), WPS, BPS, Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) in Edmonton, Peel Regional Police Service, and CBSA agents began making numerous arrests as part of the Project DISTRESS investigation. Fourteen people have been charged with a variety of offences associated to drug trafficking, proceeds of crime and weapons offences.
Project DISTRESS was initiated in October 2013 and focused on high-level members of drug trafficking cells in the province of Manitoba. During the investigation, police made numerous seizures that totaled over six kilograms of cocaine, eight kilograms of methamphetamine, and smaller quantities of dilaudid, steroids, oxycodone, percocet, and cannabis marihuana. In addition, over $70,000 in cash, three handguns, 17 long barrelled guns, and ammunition were also seized during the investigation.
Arrest warrants were issued for 14 individuals. Two still remain at large.
This long-term covert investigation involved the use of judicially authorized wiretaps to allow for the interception of private communications of numerous individuals throughout Canada. During the course of the investigation, police intercepted more than 80,000 private communications. The mandate of the MIOCTF operation was to disrupt and dismantle organized crime in the province of Manitoba.
On December 10, 2014, investigators executed five residential search warrants in Winnipeg, one in the RM of MacDonald, Manitoba, and one in Port Coquitlam, BC.
