A seven month investigation into an alleged Manitoba drug trafficking network has led to three arrests and the seizure of guns, methamphetamines and cocaine in the Brandon area.
Between Oct. 12 and 15 officers from the RCMP, Brandon Police Service and Winnipeg Police Service raided 3 homes and a hotel room, rural property and vehicles in Brandon and Griswold, Man. An additional search warrant was executed in the Toronto area.
Police said they were investigating an alleged drug trafficking network that was supplying Brandon and western Manitoban communities.
"We knew there was a significant drug dealer in the community, in the southwestern part of the province and that's why the resources were out in place to disrupt that," said Randy Lewis, deputy chief of the Brandon police.
According to RCMP, the task force seized three kilograms of cocaine, three pounds of marijuana, about one kilogram of methamphetamine and numerous weapons and ammunition including an assault-style rifle, a 22 caliber handgun, a tactical rifle and a crossbow.
$25,000 in cash was also seized, plus five vehicles worth over $260,000, police said.
Lewis said police are still trying to determine if the weapons seized in this latest string of raids are connected to any of the shootings in Brandon.
"The past few weeks have been difficult ones for the city of Brandon," said Lewis. "I'm well aware that the recent gun violence created fear within our community. This is what happens when organized crime enters a community."
Lewis added the arrests should now reduce the level of violence that Brandon has recently experienced.
Three men have been charged in connection with the raids. Leslie Gerald Bisson, 36, from Griswold, Man., Javed Ali, 29, from Georgetown, Ont., and Justin Tyler Reimer, 28, from Brandon face dozens of drug and weapon related charges.
The men remain in custody at the Brandon Correctional Centre.
Police said further charges are pending.
