Blog dedicated to reporting on Mexican drug cartels
on the border line between the US and Mexico
.

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

20 Arrested, $70M In Drugs Seized After Years-Long International Investigation: RCMP

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat

Project Divergent originated in Manitoba but involved multiple agencies from around the world

A multi-year police investigation that originated in Manitoba has led to the arrests of 20 people, including a full-patch Hells Angels member, who RCMP say were working for an international drug and weapons trafficking operation.

RCMP say officers from multiple police agencies seized more than $70 million worth of illicit drugs as part of an investigation called Project Divergent. Police say they also seized multiple weapons and Hells Angels paraphernalia. 

A multi-year police investigation that originated in Manitoba has led to the arrests of 20 people, including a full-patch Hells Angels member, who RCMP say were working for an international drug and weapons trafficking operation.

It also resulted in the largest drug seizure in Manitoba RCMP history.

The investigation, dubbed Project Divergent, was launched in 2018 after a Manitoba RCMP criminal analyst flagged some trends regarding the importation of drugs into Canada, police said at a news conference in Winnipeg Tuesday morning. 

Insp. Grant Stephen, who leads the RCMP's serious and organized crime section, said the police force soon realized it was on to a complex operation that involved large volumes of Mexican cartel drugs coming from either Mexico itself or Colombia that were being smuggled into Manitoba, then distributed across the country. 

"That was the nexus of our investigation," he said. 

Several police agencies from across Canada and around the world became involved in the investigation, including Colombian national police, Hellenic Police in Greece and the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations out of Grand Forks, N.D.

Five different criminal organizations were involved in the trafficking operation, including the Hells Angels biker gang, Stephen said at the news conference.

Of the 20 people arrested, 17 were from Manitoba, including Damion Ryan, who police say is a full patch Hells Angels member with the Attica chapter in Greece but who lives in Ontario. 

Stephen described Ryan as "likely one of most prolific organized crime members in our country."

Ryan was the only Hells Angels member arrested, he said. Police seized a range of Hells Angels paraphernalia belonging to Ryan when they arrested him. They also believe he was a member of the Wolfpack organized crime group, Stephen said.

Largest seizure 

Along with the 20 arrests, police say they also seized more than $70 million worth of illicit drugs, including 110 kilograms of cocaine (with an estimated street value of $11 million), 41.4 kilograms of methamphetamine (estimated street value of $8 million) and three kilograms of fentanyl (estimated street value of $50 million). 

"I provide you with this context not to wow you with the seizure, but to show you how many people could have been affected with this amount of illicit product," Stephen said. 

Over the course of the investigation, officers overheard members of the drug networks discuss how people were dying from overdoses and how to get their product into the hands of vulnerable people, Stephen said.

"These individuals know how dangerous the drugs they are selling are," he said. 

"There is nothing harmless about what was going on within these networks. Their reach was far and the results were devastating."

Some of the handguns seized by police as part of the investigation. (Submitted by Manitoba RCMP)

Police also recovered 14 handguns and what they described as five assault-style weapons.

Two individuals are still at large and are wanted by police in connection with the investigation:

* Kieffer Michael Kramar, 30, is from Winnipeg, but police believe he could be anywhere in Canada.

* Denis Ivziku, 24, is from the lower mainland of British Columbia. Police believe he is still in that area.

cbc

21 comments:

  1. Boy that's up in Canada girls neighborhood.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @1:37pm A year ago whilst driving on an Ontario hwy I laughed seeing the car in front of mine with personalised license plate EL CHAPO. Canada is a young country but starting to catch up with the dark world.

      Canadian girl💋

      Delete
    2. 9:20 next time stop the mophakas and take picshers for us, make sure and shave for the mug so we know which is which.
      "God Forgives, Outalws Don't"

      Delete
    3. Canada girl you better get a Panic room built out there, seems crime is high everywhere. Fortunately there's law enforcement in Canada, but much worse in Mexico, where law enforcement is in cahoots, with the criminals.

      Delete
    4. @6:47am thank you for your concern. I do have a pink Tungsten cat ears ring and stiletto laser emitting heels.

      Canadian girl💋

      Delete
    5. 1:18 don't forget to order the Pink Rabbit Grenade.

      Delete
  2. Is He'll Angels the most powerful criminal group in Canada?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Homeland involved in the case! Going to be a lot of sheety underwear wondering whether Uncle sam's schlong is going to give them a long 30 year ride in an American crowbar hotel!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You can tell a Canadian cuete from a US cuete. American outlaws use extended clips and drum mags on their pieces. Those Canadian pistols almost look quaint.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Why does Canada girl like el Huevo? She must be hony

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tortilla Troller you keep repeating the same phrase, why are you trying to rattle her cage?

      Delete
    2. 8:51 don't worry honey, i am sure El Huevo is all yours.

      Delete
  6. Wait 3 kilograms of Fentanyl is worth $50 million....WTF?
    What a load of shit

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 6:50 trump friendly cops all over, inflating shit not just to make it over blown, but trying to steal budget from other more needed areas with their amazing records.

      Delete

Comments are moderated, refer to policy for more information.
Envía fotos, vídeos, notas, enlaces o información
Todo 100% Anónimo;

borderlandbeat@gmail.com