POLICE SEIZE POUNDS OF DOPE

Drug/Organized Crime Joint Unit Slows Down Zig Zag Crew

Winnipeg Police made what they call a major "dent" in organized crime group
Zig Zag Crew after a massive drug bust.

The investigation resulted in the seizure of 1.75 km of cocaine, 14 pounds
of marijuana, 150 marijuana plants from a grow operation and smaller
quantities of methamphetamines and Ecstasy.

"Beginning in January 2004, the Winnipeg Police Service organized crime
unit and drug unit combined for a project we called "Othello," targeting
Zig Zag Crew members and distributors," said public information officer
Constable Bob Johnson.

Police gathered enough evidence to issue search warrants on 14 locations
which resulted in 35 arrests.

The searches took place at locations all over the city, including
residences on Vivian, Cathedral, Swindon Way, Tissot, Bowman, Whittington,
Stocker Bay and Chrypko.

Two businesses were also searched, on Academy Road and Osborne Street, as
well as a residence in East St. Paul.

According to Sergeant Cam Baldwin, who worked on project Othello, the Zig
Zig Crew had just been granted official status as a puppet club by the
local chapter of the Hell's Angels, so this bust could have
farther-reaching ramifications.

"We feel we've put a significant dent in their operations; the drug
distribution operations," said Baldwin.

"Drug distribution is so widespread in the city that there's always people
in the industry to take the place of the ones arrested, but I do think this
one drug cell we've targeted will be seriously compromised."

Police were unable to comment on the street value of the drugs, but large
quantities of money were also seized during the police searches.

"We've laid charges for possession of proceeds of crime," said Baldwin.

"We seized about $250,000 Canadian and $7,000 US.

"It all boils down to making money, and the making money is selling drugs."

Although the arrests were made, Johnson said the police war against drugs
and organized crime is far from over.

"It was successful," he said, "and we're happy to have this amount of
people arrested, but this is an ongoing operation and there will likely be
more arrests in the future."

[photograph caption]

Shown above is some of the drugs seized by Winnipeg Police during Operation
'Othello'