Five men charged after 7-month drug probe
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on brandonsun.com
- Read the Brandon Sun E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
*Your next Free Press subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/12/2023 (1002 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Police have announced the results of a seven-month drug investigation which led to the arrest of five people and over $160,000 worth of drugs taken off Brandon streets.
Brandon Police Service’s Project Belittle ran from March to October of this year, collecting evidence against a drug trafficking organization distributing kilogram levels of cocaine in Brandon and surrounding communities, police say.
The leader of the drug trafficking organization imported kilograms of cocaine into Brandon, which was then trafficked in multi-ounce quantities to sub-dealers within the drug network.
The investigation concluded on Oct. 16 when officers conducted a traffic stop with a vehicle outside of one of the drug organization’s “stash” locations. A kilogram of cocaine was located and seized from inside the vehicle.
Police investigation continued and led to the execution of five search warrants in Brandon and three seized vehicles. Ultimately, just over a kilogram of cocaine was seized, along with 0.62 grams of methamphetamine, 325 grams of psilocybin, about two and half kilograms of cannabis, and 45 oxycodone pills.
Police say that the seized drugs carry a combined street value of about $163,000.
About $23,000 in cash was found and two rifles, a .308 calibre and a .22 calibre, which was loaded with a 100-round drum magazine.
Police also seized drug trafficking paraphernalia, throwing knives, bear mace, and a cryptocurrency account.
The leader of the drug trafficking organization and four associates were arrested, police say.
Back in October, the Sun reported that two of the accused, Erich Wolf, 27, and Rylan McKinnon, 22, appeared in court facing drug trafficking charges and were released on conditions to not have contact with numerous “associates” and to consent to searches of their residences and phones by police.
On Monday, police released the names of all five people arrested in connection with the drug bust. Daniel Spencer, 30, Noah Joyce, 25, and Jorge Mendoza, 27, are also facing drug trafficking charges.
Wolf and McKinnon’s matters will next appear in federal court in Brandon on Dec. 14 and Spencer, Joyce, and Mendoza are scheduled to appear in provincial court on the same day.
The charges against the accused have not been proven in court and they remain innocent until proven guilty.
» gmortfield@brandonsun.com
» X: @geena_mortfield