Investigator on stand at drug trafficking trial

Police used surveillance and cameras, and intercepted phone calls and text messages as they worked to bring down a Brandon-based drug trafficking network, court was told during the trial of a man accused of being part of the operation.

Jorg Rautenberg is on trial in Brandon Court of King’s Bench, charged with conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl, along with conspiracy to possess proceeds of crime, intentional discharge of a firearm reckless to the safety of a human life, assault and assault with a weapon.

Rautenberg is accused of taking part in a drug trafficking organization that was dismantled in April 2021 as a result of Project Debris — a joint investigation by the Manitoba RCMP, Brandon Police Service and Rivers Police Service.

During trial on Tuesday, the primary investigator described the various forms of evidence collected.

Cpl. Tyler Johnson, who was the primary investigator and file co-ordinator in Project Debris during his time with the RCMP’s Manitoba Organized Crime Unit (MOCU), was the first to take the stand. He is now a member of the RCMP’s Manitoba Integrated Law Enforcement Team (MILET).

He testified that in 2020, an investigation launched into one of Rautenberg’s co-accused, which then progressed into Project Debris.

“Project Debris was a drug trafficking investigation into Jorg Rautenberg and his drug trafficking network,” Johnson said.

Throughout the seven-month investigation, Johnson said they gathered evidence through physical surveillance, intercepted cellphones and motion-sensor cameras that were set up inside and outside of a residence that was believed to be Rautenberg’s.

Rautenberg, who is representing himself but was assisted in court by defence lawyer Silas Koulack, contested the admissibility of the videos taken from inside the residence.

The lawyers entered a voir dire, which resulted in Justice Scott Abel agreeing with the Crown that the videos were admissible.

Crown attorney Hugh Crawley played several videos for the court and asked Johnson to explain what appeared to be happening in each, along with who he believed the people depicted were.

One video from Feb. 24, 2021, showed a man holding an object while talking to two other men. Crawley asked if he recognized the man and what it was that he was holding.

“A large stack of money,” he said, adding that it appeared to be Rautenberg handling it.

Another video showed a man standing in a doorway inside the residence holding an object. Crawley again asked Johnson to describe who it was and what was happening.

“Mr. Rautenberg is standing just outside the kitchen in the living room area holding a firearm,” Johnson testified.

“Was there anything about his motion that was of note to you?” Crawley asked.

“Yes, he had (the firearm) raised, and during so, you can see his shoulder pull back quickly, which I believe to be him firing the firearm,” Johnson answered.

Crawley then played a video from a different angle in the residence, which showed a woman leaving the “porch area of the residence,” which Johnson testified was the direction the man shot the firearm.

Johnson’s direct examination is scheduled to continue today.

» sanderson@brandonsun.com