05/21/2026
Interprovincial drug investigation leads to largest illicit drug seizure in Manitoba history, 33 individuals arrested: R24-1098/R25-2397
In May 2024, the Winnipeg Police Service’s Organized Crime Unit (OCU) commenced an investigation regarding an organized network of individuals that were importing large quantities of co***ne, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the city of Winnipeg.
The drugs were then distributed throughout the Province of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. Investigators determined that the network was comprised of individuals with international ties associated to the upper echelon of Organized Crime in Canada including the Hells Angels, Wolfpack Alliance, and the Mexican Cartel. This organization was shown to exert significant control over the distribution of illicit commodities within Manitoba and other provinces.
The joint operation spanned approximately two years, concluding in March 2026, and focused on multiple drug trafficking cells operating under a single umbrella organization believed to be sourcing controlled substances from a national level supplier. Through this enforcement action, investigators aimed to disrupt and dismantle individual trafficking networks while gathering intelligence related to the higher levels of the criminal organization. The investigation determined that controlled substances were imported from the United States using commercial vehicles and subsequently warehoused in Alberta and Ontario. The drugs were then transported into Manitoba through various methods, including mail services, courier deliveries, commercial transport, and private vehicles equipped with hidden compartments.
As a result of this lengthy investigation, 33 individuals were arrested with 174 drug trafficking, proceeds of crime and conspiracy related charges. Investigators also seized over $37.2 million worth of illicit drugs (estimated street value), 14 fi****ms, approximately $825,000 in currency and 1.35 million illegal ci******es.
This interprovincial investigation, along with the Winnipeg Police Service included the collaboration of the following agencies:
• Manitoba Criminal Intelligence Centre (MCIC)
• Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
(FINTRAC)
• Parkland Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta)
• Edmonton Police Service (EPS)
• Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (Toronto)
• Guns and Gangs Unit (Winnipeg Police Service)
• Winkler Police ServicenklerPolice Service
• Brandon Police Service
• Ontario Provincial Police (OPP – Paris Ontario and Northwest
Region)
• Morden Police Service
• Ontario Provincial Police Northwest Region
• Ontario Provincial Police Brant County
• Kenora Ontario Provincial Police Organized Crime Enforcement
Bureau
The following drugs were seized:
• 339 kg of methamphetamine (estimated wholesale value of $2,710,000/estimated street value of $16,950,000)
• 175 kg of co***ne (estimated wholesale value of $4,375,000/estimated street value of $17,500,000)
• 11.25 kg of fentanyl (estimated wholesale value of $225,000/estimated street value of $2,700,000)
• An undisclosed quantity of pills
• Cannabis ma*****na
• Cannabis derivatives
Fi****ms and assets seized included:
• 12 handguns
• 1 carbine
• 1 shotgun
• 7 vehicles
• 1.35 million illegal ci******es (representing an estimated tax loss of $400,000)
The following individuals were arrested for drug trafficking, proceeds of crime and conspiracy-related charges:
Bahadur Bobir, 30 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Zubair Mohammad-Zarif, 34 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Samantha Graham, 28 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Christopher Rundle, 44 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Tyren Petiquan-Landon, 19 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Ronald Zastre, 33 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Tiffany Church, 34 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Matthew Haiko, 46 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Tongun Tongun, 24 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Hothaifa Hassan, 24 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
George McFarlane, 50 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Clinton Netengesic, 36 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Addison Perry, 29 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Daniel Finkbeiner, 38 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Savannah McDougall, 24 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Thomas Barnecki, 45 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Cory Cozmenski, 48 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Carol Dignard, 63 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Norman Leduc, 60 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Connor Abraham, 21 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Mohammed Makhlouf, 23 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Gage Hale, 31 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Seth Driedger, 24 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Shelby Hershfeldt, 39 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Kaleigh Lajoie, 22 yrs of Winnipeg, MB
Richard Barnecki, 43 yrs of Ile Des Chenes, MB
Gary Benjamin Thompson, 45 yrs of Morris, MB
Braeden Lindsay, 27 yrs of Brandon, MB
Merrick Wieler, 35 yrs of Winkler, MB
Chelsea Mageau, 35 yrs of Edmonton, AB
William Meredith, 25 yrs of Kenora, ONT
Vatana Chao, 35 yrs of Brantford, ONT
Preaktra Chao, 33 yrs of Brantford, ONT
In addition, Ontario Provincial Police in Fort Francis and Dryden Ontario detachments arrested an additional four people related to this project, resulting in the seizure of an additional 26 kilograms of co***ne. Although part of the project, the enforcement was done independent and was the result of proactive policing conducted by the Ontario Provincial Police Northwest Region.
Two additional individuals, Randy Chao and Tyler DeFelice, of Brantford, ONT, are wanted on outstanding warrants in relation to this investigation on conspiracy related charges.
The Winnipeg Police Service would like to thank the Manitoba Criminal Property Forfeiture Unit for their continued collaboration and to the Manitoba Criminal Intelligence Centre (MCIC). Their financial support made this project possible.
