"RAT USED AGAIN
Thu, December 13, 2007
Hells busted again
Pre-dawn raids nab club prez, 13 others
By CHRIS KITCHING, SUN MEDIA
Eighteen people, including the president of the Manitoba Hells Angels, are facing charges in connection with a joint police investigation targeting the club, its associates and drug-trafficking cells.
RCMP and Winnipeg police conducted pre-dawn raids at the local Hells Angels clubhouse at 2679 Scotia St. in Winnipeg, and a number of residences in the city, rural Manitoba and B.C. yesterday. Some of the suspects were arrested Tuesday night or weeks ago.
Fourteen people are in custody. Warrants have been issued for four people who police did not identify.
The long-term investigation, dubbed Project Drill, began in November 2006 and was handled by the Manitoba Integrated Organized Crime Task Force. It focused on drug trafficking in Manitoba, B.C., Alberta and Ontario.
INFORMANT
A source said police used an undercover informant during the operation. Police in Alberta and B.C. were also involved.
The task force was responsible for a similar operation in February 2006 -- Project Defense -- which resulted in the arrests of three Hells Angels members, including then-president Ernie Dew, and 10 others.
Current president Dale Berry Donovan, 33, of Gimli was elevated to president after Dew's arrest. Donovan was arrested in Winnipeg yesterday and is charged with five offences, including instruction of an offence for a criminal organization.
Police did not identify the type of offence he allegedly instructed.
Manitoba Hells Angels prospect Allain Joseph LeBras, 56, and hangaround Allen Raymond Morrison, 35, were charged.
LeBras is the former president of the now-defunct Los Brovos chapter.
Morrison was already in custody on drug charges.
Police believe the arrests will put a dent in organized crime activity in Manitoba.
"Our efforts are going to continue to make an impact on organizations like this," said Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen.
"These people all played roles, some of them key roles, in organized crime and drug trafficking," said RCMP spokeswoman Sgt. Line Karpish. "We're definitely fulfilling our mandate to disrupt and dismantle organized crime."
Police have seized 11 kilograms of cocaine, 2,000 methamphetamine tablets, and 13 pounds of marijuana during the operation.
They also seized five machine guns and three handguns smuggled into Canada from the U.S.
During yesterday's takedowns, police seized vehicles, $70,000 in cash, firearms, pot, and Hells Angels-related documents and property.
---
OP RESULTS
Project Drill numbers:
- 18 people charged
- 14 in custody as of yesterday
- Four people wanted
- Three others arrested during one of the raids and facing charges
- More than 70 charges laid
- Year-long investigation
- Drugs seized: 11 kilograms of cocaine, 2,000 tablets of methamphetamine, and 13 pounds of marijuana
- Weapons seized: Five machine guns and three handguns
- Other property seized: $70,000 in cash, vehicles and Hells Angels-related documents and property such as vests and signs
STORY SOURCE(click here)
Hells busted again
Pre-dawn raids nab club prez, 13 others
By CHRIS KITCHING, SUN MEDIA
Eighteen people, including the president of the Manitoba Hells Angels, are facing charges in connection with a joint police investigation targeting the club, its associates and drug-trafficking cells.
RCMP and Winnipeg police conducted pre-dawn raids at the local Hells Angels clubhouse at 2679 Scotia St. in Winnipeg, and a number of residences in the city, rural Manitoba and B.C. yesterday. Some of the suspects were arrested Tuesday night or weeks ago.
Fourteen people are in custody. Warrants have been issued for four people who police did not identify.
The long-term investigation, dubbed Project Drill, began in November 2006 and was handled by the Manitoba Integrated Organized Crime Task Force. It focused on drug trafficking in Manitoba, B.C., Alberta and Ontario.
INFORMANT
A source said police used an undercover informant during the operation. Police in Alberta and B.C. were also involved.
The task force was responsible for a similar operation in February 2006 -- Project Defense -- which resulted in the arrests of three Hells Angels members, including then-president Ernie Dew, and 10 others.
Current president Dale Berry Donovan, 33, of Gimli was elevated to president after Dew's arrest. Donovan was arrested in Winnipeg yesterday and is charged with five offences, including instruction of an offence for a criminal organization.
Police did not identify the type of offence he allegedly instructed.
Manitoba Hells Angels prospect Allain Joseph LeBras, 56, and hangaround Allen Raymond Morrison, 35, were charged.
LeBras is the former president of the now-defunct Los Brovos chapter.
Morrison was already in custody on drug charges.
Police believe the arrests will put a dent in organized crime activity in Manitoba.
"Our efforts are going to continue to make an impact on organizations like this," said Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen.
"These people all played roles, some of them key roles, in organized crime and drug trafficking," said RCMP spokeswoman Sgt. Line Karpish. "We're definitely fulfilling our mandate to disrupt and dismantle organized crime."
Police have seized 11 kilograms of cocaine, 2,000 methamphetamine tablets, and 13 pounds of marijuana during the operation.
They also seized five machine guns and three handguns smuggled into Canada from the U.S.
During yesterday's takedowns, police seized vehicles, $70,000 in cash, firearms, pot, and Hells Angels-related documents and property.
---
OP RESULTS
Project Drill numbers:
- 18 people charged
- 14 in custody as of yesterday
- Four people wanted
- Three others arrested during one of the raids and facing charges
- More than 70 charges laid
- Year-long investigation
- Drugs seized: 11 kilograms of cocaine, 2,000 tablets of methamphetamine, and 13 pounds of marijuana
- Weapons seized: Five machine guns and three handguns
- Other property seized: $70,000 in cash, vehicles and Hells Angels-related documents and property such as vests and signs
STORY SOURCE(click here)
posted by Demo at Thursday, December 13, 2007
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