14 people charged in inter-provincial drug-op dubbed Soft Landing

Winnipeg police say 14 people have been charged in connection to a inter-provincial drug trafficking investigation.

WPS says in May 2023, a large-scale investigation began after it was believed millions of dollars worth of illicit drugs were being trafficking into Winnipeg from Toronto.

Police say the drugs were believed to have been shipped by couriers, railways, and bus lines.

With help from the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Center of Canada (FINTRAC), and various police organizations in Ontario and B.C., officers were able to execute 22 search warrants in the three provinces on March 6, 2024.

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During the various searches, police found and seized the following items:

• $1.7 million in Canadian currency;
• Approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine (estimated street value of $3 million);
• Four handguns (including two 3D printed guns);
• One sub-machine gun with a suppressor;
• Loaded magazines and ammunition;
• 75 kilograms of cutting agent;
• A hydraulic cocaine press/moulds;
• 12 vehicles, including (one Rolls Royce valued at $450,000, four Mercedes, two BMWs, one Lexus). Three of these vehicles had custom-made concealment compartments;
• One Harley Davidson motorcycle;
• Approximately $4 million in proceeds of crime (jewellery, vehicles, merchandise).

Police say as a result of the seizures, 14 people — nine from Winnipeg, two from Vancouver, one from Hamilton, one from Burlington, and one from Toronto — between the ages of 22 and 62 were taken into custody and charged with offences related to organized crime, drug trafficking, possession of firearms, proceeds of crimes and laundering proceeds of crime.

Police say additional charges may be laid in connection to this investigation at a later time.