ZIG ZAGS ZAPPED

Undercover Op Busts Gangland Dope Ring

It was an undercover operation that shares the name of a Shakespearean
tragedy and it has an unhappy ending for nearly three dozen Hells
Angels underlings. Winnipeg police have arrested 35 people --
consisting of an undisclosed combination of Zig Zag Crew members and
gang associates -- following an extensive 10-month investigation
called Othello.

The arrests, which were made Friday during a series of 14 city-wide
raids, "put a significant dent in the drug-distribution operations" of
the Zig Zag Crew -- the puppet club of the Hells Angels, Sgt. Cam
Baldwin said yesterday.

During the busts, police seized 1.75 kilograms of cocaine, 14 pounds
of marijuana, 150 marijuana plants from grow operations and a small
amount of methamphetamine and ecstasy.

The drugs have an estimated street value of more than
$285,000.

Officers also confiscated $250,000 in Canadian currency and $7,000 US,
along with a house and two vehicles.

"Drug distribution is so widespread in the city that there's always
people who are involved in the industry to take the place of the ones
that have been arrested," said Baldwin, who heads the Winnipeg police
organized crime unit. "But I do think that this one particular drug
cell that we have targeted within the Zig Zag organization will be
seriously compromised by it, and it will take them awhile to
re-establish themselves."

SUCCESSFUL

Baldwin said he wasn't sure why Winnipeg police brass decided to call
the operation "Othello" but calls the project successful.

"I think that it was very successful. When you target mid-level drug
dealers, it is very, very difficult. An awful lot of effort went into
this and a lot of dedication by our officers," he added.

"As we know, cocaine fuels the organized crime world, and the revenues
that some of these people are profiting are very significant. This
project has served as a flagship for our department as to how we
intend to target these individuals in the future as well."

The city's underworld cocaine trade generates an estimated $5 million
monthly, Baldwin said.

Police believe the drugs they seized were supplied by local members of
the Hells Angels.

"In every project, we hope to work our way up to the top," Baldwin
said. "Sometimes the top level of organized crime is so far removed
from the day-to-day activities that it's very difficult to reach that."

Police wouldn't say what residences or businesses were raided because
they don't want to jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

Of the 35 people arrested, "two or three" were female, said Winnipeg
police spokesman Const. Bob Johnson.

Most of the suspects face charges of possession for the purpose of
trafficking marijuana and cocaine or conspiracy to traffic marijuana
and cocaine, Johnson said.

Police wouldn't release the suspects' names. One of the accused is
alleged Zig Zag Crew member Dustin Feniuk, a source said.

During the raids, cops also discovered a clandestine lab at 489 Bowman
Ave. in East Kildonan.