Alleged drug dealers target Winnipeg wildfire evacuation site, police claim

Winnipeg police say two men are facing charges for allegedly selling drugs at a wildfire evacuation site in the city.

“It’s just very disheartening that people who have to evacuate from their home communities under a very stressful situation that they would be put in that situation where they may not or they may have been involved in that drug trade before,” said Winnipeg Police Service Insp. Max Waddell.

“So if it is a very vulnerable person and this is their first time, we all know anyone that takes methamphetamine can potentially be hooked for life.”

That was one of the big fears flagged by police and community leaders earlier this summer when evacuees first came to Winnipeg.

“We obviously take this very seriously,” said Waddell.

According to Winnipeg police, officers stationed in the Wellington Avenue area saw what they believe to be several drug deals around the evacuation site Sunday night. Officers then moved in and pulled over the vehicle, finding cash, cocaine and a “drug line” (cell phone).

“That’s what drug dealers do,” Waddell told reporters. “They’re there to make money. That’s their only existence. They don’t care about their victims, they don’t care about anything else, other than to make money.”

The WPS says police liaison teams are visiting evacuation centres throughout the city to help ensure a safe environment for people who have had to flee their homes. Officers were tipped off by the community, and police say community members play an important role.

“If you notice or other evacuees notice people trying to take advantage of vulnerable people out there, just give us a call,” said Insp. Jon Lutz with the WPS major incident response team.

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) said it is “deeply concerned” by the alleged drug activity near an evacuation site.

“Our people have already endured the unimaginable hardship and stress of fleeing their homes due to wildfires,” said Grand Chief Garrison Settee. “To have others prey on them during this vulnerable time is completely unacceptable. I commend the Winnipeg Police Service for protecting our evacuees.”

Farhan Arab, 18, and Caue Martin, 21, are facing trafficking charges. Both were previously known to police, who say they’re not connected to a large trafficking network.

The allegations have not been tested in court.