30 smuggled guns, drugs seized in investigation into alleged Winnipeg gang leader: police

Police in Manitoba say they seized dozens of smuggled firearms and $60,000 worth of cocaine and opioids in a series of raids in and around Winnipeg in March.

Five suspects were arrested as part of “Project Quarry,” a Winnipeg police and Manitoba RCMP joint investigation that began in November 2024.

Winnipeg police say the operation targeted a network of alleged cocaine and firearms traffickers throughout Manitoba connected to alleged gang leader Brian Gladue, 36, from Stonewall. Police would not name the gang.

“This is a huge, huge public safety issue that someone is able to stockpile this many firearms,” said WPS Insp. Josh Ewatski.

“We don’t want these firearms on the streets and in the hands of people who are going to use them not only against their rivals, but what we always see happen is someone who is innocent gets caught in the crossfire.”

Between March 17 and 19, authorities searched homes and vehicles in six locations: two in Stonewall, two in Rockwood, one in Winnipeg’s Silver Heights neighbourhood and another in Fort Garry.

“Organized crime can infiltrate those communities that are peaceful and great places to live,” said RCMP Supt. Jeff Admundson. “But obviously with intelligence-sharing and the cooperation between the Winnipeg Police Service and RCMP, we were able to address a public safety issue and get them off the street.”

Police say they seized handguns, rifles, and shotguns, which were smuggled into Canada from the United States. Some were stolen in the U.S. before being brought across the border, police say. They allege they found the weapons stockpiled at one location in Rockwood.

Also at that location were illegal accessories like silencers and devices that convert guns to fire automatically, police add. Those devices have become more popular on Winnipeg streets, authorities say.

“What’s extremely concerning I think, above the number of firearms here, is the devices that can make a semi-automatic gun fire automatically and the silencers,” Ewatski said. “There’s really only one reason why you have silencers on a firearm.”

Police say they also seized cocaine and hydromorphone – an opioid – as part of the raid.

Gladue, Michelle Precious Grozelle, 23, Crystal Leona Strojec, 46, Cory Hopcraft, 47, and Chad Line, 48, are facing 53 charges related to drug and firearm trafficking.

None of the allegations have been tested in court.

–With files from Stef Lasuik