Anglais
Trucking in meth: How smugglers sneak the destructive drug into Winnipeg
[ad_1]
Allan Rodney was never alone on the open road, police allege — bags of illicit drugs were treated like his passengers.
Court records say Rodney, a 72-year-old long-haul trucker from Surrey, B.C., made frequent trips into Winnipeg over a period of months to unload the legal freight he was supposed to ship — and the illicit drugs he wasn’t.
Police believe such trips are a snapshot of how the methamphetamine infiltrating Winnipeg’s streets has arrived here — a problem one former gang investigator says is akin to a flood police are trying to stop with a finger in a dike.
Rodney, along with fellow driver Shontal Vaupotic, 32, would travel more than 2,000 kilometres each way, like a team, the court records allege. They usually travelled to the Prairie city once a week, sometimes twice.
On rare occasions, they’d visit Winnipeg using the semi-trailer of their legitimate employer with nothing but illicit drugs to deliver, the documents say.
Before their arrest last October after a 10-month investigation dubbed Project Riverbank, police allege Rodney and Vaupotic were smugglers — part of what investigators say was a major western Canadian drug-trafficking operation shipping a cheap, highly addictive drug that’s being brought into Winnipeg in disturbing quantities.
A semi-trailer police seized as part of Project Riverbank, a months-long investigation into an alleged drug-smuggling ring. The truck sported the logo of a family-run company based in Langley, B.C. The owner of the business says it belonged to an independent contractor and was operated by two of the people charged as part of the Project Riverbank investigation. (Holly Caruk/CBC)
The drug’s proliferation has been tied to a disturbing spike in crime and violence that underscores the strain police and emergency services are facing.
Unlike a decade ago, when the drug’s presence in the city was comparatively small, the meth now sold in Winnipeg is mostly manufactured elsewhere, which means it’s being brought into the city — somehow.
You name the mode of transportation and it’s probably being used, says Insp. Max Waddell of the Winnipeg Police Service’s organized crime unit.
« That’s to elude detection, » he said. « If they’re always changing their game, it makes it very difficult for us to just focus or concentrate on one particular method. »
He previously called the dismantling of what police say was a sophisticated smuggling ring through Project Riverbank a major blow to the city’s drug supply.
The operation resulted in the seizure of nearly $3 million worth of drugs and other property, including a semi. Eleven people were arrested and face more than 160 charges.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Mexican cartels
Police believe much of the city’s methamphetamine is concocted by Mexican drug cartels, Waddell said. The product is shipped along the West Coast toward the United States, and then enters British Columbia by land, sea or air. It is then transported east toward centres like Winnipeg.
The United States has tracked the production of meth in that country, and the Drug Enforcement Administration notes that while most of the U.S. supply is smuggled in through Mexico, domestic production last year reached its lowest level since 2000.
It’s like trying to put your finger on a hole in a dam. There’s just so many ways they can get it in.– Former gang investigator Doug Spencer
In Canada, meth is being imported and distributed by networks of organized criminals who know what they’re doing, police say.
« They have channels and they’ve established themselves, no different than a company that is across Western Canada, » Waddell said. « It’s the same principle. »
« From our sources and our intelligence, the majority comes from British Columbia and then comes east to Manitoba, » Waddell said, but some makes its way through Ontario from the east.
Doug Spencer, a former gang investigator with the Vancouver Police Department, said his city is a hotspot for the distribution of drugs. He said trying to impede that flow is an onerous task.
« It’s like trying to put your finger on a hole in a dam. There’s just so many ways they can get it in, right? They smuggle it inside human beings as well. »
He said Vancouver gangsters have to look elsewhere to sell because the city is oversaturated with opioids. That could explain the ring Project Riverbank busted, Spencer said.
The alleged ringleader, Mohammad Khan, has ties with the Independent Soldiers street gang in B.C. and the Wolfpack — an alliance of the Independent Soldiers, Hells Angels and Red Scorpions, court records say.
Insp. Max Waddell, commander of the Winnipeg Police Service’s organized crime unit, shows some of the drugs seized as part of Project Riverbank to media on Nov. 1, 2018. (Warren Kay/CBC )
Spencer said police in the Prairies have thankfully established interdiction units to catch drug smugglers en route.
« A single young male by himself from Vancouver, driving a motorhome out to Manitoba a couple of times a month — you don’t have to be a policeman to figure out something’s going on, » he said.
« It’s investigating, it’s being a police officer, being sharp and picking that stuff off. But … you’re not even barely scratching the surface. »
Few ways to stop drug’s entry
Drug mules often cross provincial boundaries without any impediment, Spencer says.
« There’s nobody there. There’s no checks there. »
The transformation of big-rig drivers into smugglers brings disrepute to the trucking industry, said Manan Gupta, who runs Road Today — a national trucking publication primarily catering to the South Asian community.
I don’t believe anyone is fully forced to be carriers of these illicit drugs. They’re doing it likely for the same reason that drug dealers are in business: it’s to make profits.– Winnipeg police Insp. Max Waddell
He isn’t surprised that criminals have infiltrated the trucking industry. Sometimes, drivers are unwittingly drawn into smuggling, but often greed, money troubles or their own naivety are to blame, he said.
« Many scenarios, you know, people know what they’re doing, » he said. « They just get caught at the wrong time and the wrong place. »
Gupta said newcomers to the country are more susceptible to the charms of experienced drug traffickers. Before long, they’re doing the bidding of criminals and they’re trapped.
As a result of a 10-month investigation that involved five police forces, police say they busted a complex drug network that was operating across the western provinces, resulting in the seizure of $2.7 million in drugs, cash, and vehicles. (Warren Kay/CBC)
In a number of Canadian court cases involving drug importation, however, defence attorneys have maintained their clients were blind to the illicit cargo discreetly stored in their freight.
Waddell finds that explanation hard to believe.
« I don’t believe anyone is fully forced to be carriers of these illicit drugs. They’re doing it likely for the same reason that drug dealers are in business: it’s to make profits. »
And money is directly behind the rise in meth use in Winnipeg, he said, with the price of the drug cratering from $60,000 per kilogram in 2016 to around $17,000 today.
Priced to sell
Since it’s so cheap, local dealers don’t bother with homemade recipes.
« You avoid less detection if you can just purchase the product at such a low cost than to try and elude police and try [to] figure out how to manufacture this product, » Waddell said.
Even the odd time that the vehicles are intercepted, it’s a small fraction of probably what’s coming and going.– Mitch Bourbonniere
Mitch Bourbonniere runs a program called Ogijita Pimatiswin Kinamatwin, which works to help at-risk Winnipeggers stay out of gangs. He says dealers are following the principle they can sell in volume by selling cheap.
« If you just lower your prices and make the money off of volume, you’re going to make it, » he said.
Like Waddell, the social worker says there are many lone agents doling out meth who aren’t otherwise engaged in the drug trade. They’ve found an opening in the industry because the demand is so high, Bourbonniere said.
He’s frustrated there are few means to prevent meth from entering Winnipeg. If he had his way, the justice system would mete out stronger penalties against convicted smugglers and dealers.
« So much traffic comes in and out of our province, it would be impossible to track all of that for law enforcement, » he said.
« Even the odd time that the vehicles are intercepted, it’s a small fraction of probably what’s coming and going. »
[ad_2]
Source link
In downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.
In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.
Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.
With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.
Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”
“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.
The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.
When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.
“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”
MONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.
MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.
The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.
The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.
Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.
STUDIO SHORTAGE
The film industry is cramped in Montreal.
According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.
With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.
Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »
« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.
She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.
« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.
There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.
« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.
Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.
For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.
MAPEI Canada inaugure l’agrandissement de son usine à Laval, au Québec
Le Gala Elles reconnaissent célèbre les femmes remarquables de l’industrie de la construction
Préparez votre maison pour l’hiver afin d’éviter les réclamations d’assurance
Quatre façons de commencer à travailler dans le domaine des ventes
La Commission indépendante soutient le recours de la Cour suprême contre le déni des droits des non-francophones par le Québec
Justin Trudeau est un raciste contre les Noirs et les Premières Nations – 14 signes
Enfants aux études loin de la maison : Trois conseils pour veiller à la santé de leurs finances
Règles et règlements que toutes les entreprises canadiennes doivent connaître
Épargnez pour l’avenir grâce à nos trucs financiers pour la rentrée
Efficacité énergétique: 10 façons économiques de l’améliorer
Ces légendes du baccara vous dévoilent leurs secrets
Retard de vol : le devoir de la compagnie envers ses passagers
Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme
Même les jeunes RÉPUBLIQUES se lassent du capitalisme, selon les sondeurs américains — RT USA News
« Aucune crise climatique ne causera la fin du capitalisme ! »
Innovation : le capitalisme « responsable », faux problème et vraie diversion
Vers la fin du Capitalocène ?
Le “capitalisme viral” peut-il sauver la planète ?
Livre : comment le capitalisme a colonisé les esprits
Patrick Artus : « Le capitalisme d’aujourd’hui est économiquement inefficace »
Body found after downtown Lethbridge apartment building fire, police investigating – Lethbridge
Comment aider un bébé à développer son goût
Head of Toronto Community Housing placed on paid leave
Salon du chocolat 2018: les 5 temps forts
This B.C. woman’s recipe is one of the most popular of all time — and the story behind it is bananas
Gluten-Free Muffins
We Try Kin Euphorics and How to REALLY Get the Glow | Healthyish
Man facing eviction from family home on Toronto Islands gets reprieve — for now
Condo developer Thomas Liu — who collected millions but hasn’t built anything — loses court fight with Town of Ajax
27 CP Rail cars derail near Lake Louise, Alta.
Ontario’s Tories hope Ryan Gosling video will keep supporters from breaking up with the party
Renaud Capuçon, rédacteur en chef du Figaroscope
Paris : chez Cécile Roederer co-fondatrice de Smallable
Ontario Tories argue Trudeau’s carbon plan is ‘unconstitutional’
100 years later, Montreal’s Black Watch regiment returns to Wallers, France
Trudeau government would reject Jason Kenney, taxpayers group in carbon tax court fight
Ford Ranger Raptor, le pick-up roule des mécaniques
Le Forex devient de plus en plus accessible aux débutants
Los Angeles poursuit The Weather Channel pour atteinte à la vie privée
The Bill Gates globalist vaccine depopulation agenda… as revealed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
-
Anglais5 années agoBody found after downtown Lethbridge apartment building fire, police investigating – Lethbridge
-
Santé Et Nutrition4 années agoComment aider un bébé à développer son goût
-
Anglais5 années agoHead of Toronto Community Housing placed on paid leave
-
Styles De Vie5 années agoSalon du chocolat 2018: les 5 temps forts
-
Anglais5 années agoThis B.C. woman’s recipe is one of the most popular of all time — and the story behind it is bananas
-
Santé Et Nutrition5 années agoGluten-Free Muffins
-
Santé Et Nutrition5 années agoWe Try Kin Euphorics and How to REALLY Get the Glow | Healthyish
-
Anglais5 années agoMan facing eviction from family home on Toronto Islands gets reprieve — for now