Police seize 57 firearms, kilos of cocaine in crackdown on trafficking network in southern Manitoba

Authorities say they have arrested 15 people and seized more than 10 kilos of illicit drugs as part of a police investigation into a drug and weapons trafficking network operating in multiple southern Manitoba communities.

Project Dolor began in December 2024 after police in Winkler discovered large quantities of cocaine were being imported to businesses in the area.

That operation expanded over time as police say other types of drugs and some weapons were also being trafficked.

The accused are described as a “sophisticated group with connections.”

“This group of people was working with each other, supporting each other, trafficking back and forth with each other and putting it all on our streets, our communities large and small,” said Supt. Jeff Asmundson with the Manitoba Integrated Law Enforcement Team (MILET).

The joint investigation involved MILET, RCMP and the Winkler Police Service.

The suspects – 14 men and one woman ranging in age from 26 to 47 – were arrested over the past month in Winkler, the RM of Stuartburn, Thornhill, La Riviere and McCreary. Sixty-seven charges have been laid against 13 of the suspects, including trafficking and conspiring to traffic.

Of the 67 charges, 29 are against Tyler Thorvaldson, a 29-year-old man from Carman who has been in custody since February. Police are describing him as a “mid- to high-hevel player in this group.” The allegations against him have not been tested in court.

Law enforcement officials say many of the arrested suspects were previously known to police.

“Obviously drug trafficking will continue,” Asmundson said. “There will be a hole for a while. And we did make a definite dent, especially in that corner of the province. There will be other traffickers who will try to fill that void, because there is a demand, but I think we made a definite impact.”

Charges are pending against two men from Winnipeg, aged 35 and 38.

As part of Project Dolor, authorities say they seized eight kilograms of cocaine, 2.5 kilograms of psilocybin, 13 restricted handguns, 44 non-restricted firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, four vehicles, tobacco and cash.

Police say three of the restricted firearms were illegally trafficked, possibly coming into Canada from the United States.

“Each one of these firearms represents a danger to the communities that they came from,” said Minister of Justice Matt Wiebe.

“When it comes down to it, we want to have an impact, we want to disrupt the organized crime in our province. We want to stop illegal drugs from coming into our communities and devastating our communities, and we want to keep communities safe. And this is how we do it.”

“The arrests made as part of Project Dolor are the culmination of more than a year and a half of tireless work by police officers from multiple organizations — all working together to disrupt a criminal network in Winkler and other communities,” added Winkler Police Service Chief Ryan Hunt.

The investigation is ongoing and more charges are expected.