Traffic stop outside city nets nearly $1M in cash
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RCMP seized nearly $1 million in cash and arrested two Ontario men during a traffic stop just outside Brandon late last week.
Both men were charged with possession of property obtained by crime for the purpose of drug trafficking.
Ahmad Ahmadi, 44, from Stouffville, Ont. was released on bail in a Brandon provincial court on Tuesday with an order not to possess any illegal drugs, weapons or contact the co-accused, and pay a cash deposit of $1,000 and $11,000 surety.
The Manitoba RCMP seized approximately $970,000 during a traffic stop on July 31 near Brandon. Police have charged Ahmad Ahmadi, 44 from Stouffville, Ont. and Alireza Haghgoo, 22, from Toronto, Ont. with possession of property obtained by crime for the purpose of drug trafficking. (Photo submitted by RCMP)
Judge Shauna Hewitt-Michta reserved her decision on the bail application for co-accused Alireza Haghgoo, 22, of Toronto until Monday.
Federal Crown attorney Ken Hawkins told the court via telephone that the men were arrested during a traffic stop around 9 p.m. on July 31 in the Rural Municipality of Cornwallis.
He said a police officer “observed a fast-moving white SUV travelling eastbound” on the Trans-Canada Highway toward Brandon that was driving 129 kilometres an hour in a 100 km/h zone.
The SUV was pulled over for speeding and there was “a little bit of argumentation” between the officer and occupants, Hawkins said.
The officer asked both men where they were travelling from, Hawkins said, reading from the RCMP report.
Haghgoo, who was in the passenger seat, allegedly told the officer they had flown out to explore Calgary that day and were doing “random work” involving selling jewelry and watches.
The officer noted the men were travelling in a rental vehicle with an Ontario licence plate and asked to see the rental agreement, Hawkins said.
The document showed they had rented the vehicle from the Calgary airport that day and had a one-way return to Toronto by Aug. 2, barely giving them time to explore the city or travel home, “which means they had a deadline for some reason to get back,” he said.
Hawkins said the officer noted in his report that “when people fly one way and drive back, it’s quite often because they have something in their possession that they do not want to get caught with.”
He said the officer added that people involved in drug trafficking “will often utilize rental vehicles as it provides a level of anonymity, as law enforcement are unable to tell who is driving because it’s not registered to them, and the vehicle will not get seized by civil property forfeiture.”
The officer suspected Haghgoo had provided a cover story, alleging he became “really nervous” the more he spoke. He declined to provide identification to police, Hawkins said.
Ahmadi was screened for alcohol, which came back negative, and was given a speeding ticket.
Then the RCMP informed the occupants that they were being detained for a drug investigation, Hawkins said.
Hawkins said police peered through the vehicle’s back window and saw a reusable shopping bag that looked like it had rectangular bricks sticking out.
“These objects looked, in his experience, to be similar to bricks of cocaine in shape and size,” he said.
The officer alleged a hockey bag with no luggage tags was also in the back seat.
RCMP searched the vehicle and found approximately $970,000 in cash.
Hawkins said the cash was being tracked by Apple AirTags — small, coin-sized tracking devices — found in the two bags.
Ahmadi and Haghgoo were both interviewed by police, who claimed the co-accused seemed to barely know each other, which was “odd” yet “very common” for alleged drug couriers transporting contraband, Hawkins said.
During his statement to police, Ahmadi said he owned a limousine company in Toronto and was hired to fly to Calgary and drive Haghgoo back to Toronto.
Haghgoo told police he’s a self-employed jeweller who buys high-end jewelry and watches and acts as a “middle man” for other jewellers.
“His job was to fly to Calgary and pick up the money from the buyer and bring it back,” Hawkins said.
Haghgoo’s defence lawyer said his client is a refugee who moved to Canada in 2019.
The lawyer presented a bail plan to the judge which included a $2,500 surety, a total promise to pay of $60,000 and conditions to reside in Toronto and only possess one phone.
Ahmadi’s next court date is scheduled in Brandon for Sept. 10. None of the allegations have been tested in court.
» tadamski@brandonsun.com