Fourteen charged in Project Sideshow
Kristin Annable
Feb 13, 2018
An operation that spanned three cities, utilized more than 100 Winnipeg cops, and lasted 18 months has led to the arrest of 14 people allegedly linked to high-level drug trafficking.
Police say the covert operation, dubbed Project Sideshow, has decimated an organized gang of drug dealers.
“The impact for this particular group is that their ability to grow and prosper has been crippled by this operation,” said Staff Sgt. Rob Harding.
The operation began in the spring of 2012 with the organized crime unit targeting an organized crime group with high-end players that operate across Canada. The group was importing cocaine, meth, and ecstasy into Winnipeg for further distribution, said police, adding the gang included “the highest-level drug traffickers in Winnipeg.”
The investigation culminated in 19 simultaneous raids on Feb. 5, including addresses on St. Anne’s Road, Harrowby Avenue, Magnus Avenue, and Market Avenue in the Exchange District. Of the 14 arrested, nine are from Winnipeg, one is from Howden, Man., three are from B.C., and one suspect splits her time between Winnipeg and Toronto.
“The bulk of cocaine and other drugs come from British Columbia,” Harding said of the B.C connection, adding traffickers from Winnipeg often have strong connections to B.C
In addition to the drugs, police said their investigation revealed the suspects were allegedly using privately-owned ATMs from four Winnipeg establishments to launder money. Police seized six ATM machines in total.
Harding couldn’t say if the owners of the establishments were aware of what was going on, but said three of the places were liquor establishments, “where our targets are known to frequent and their associates.”
Although the Feb. 5 raid wasn’t the largest in Winnipeg police history, Harding said the quantity of cash and drugs observed during the course of the investigation was significant.
“As far as scope of project goes, this is probably one of the longer running investigations and we certainly saw a great quantity of drugs and cash changing hands compared to other projects,” he said.
During the course of Project Sideshow, police say they observed 92 kilograms of cocaine, worth $5 million, being trafficked, as well as 3.5 kilograms of meth worth $192,000, a kilogram of ecstasy valued at $20,000, and more than $4.3 million in cash from drug sales.
Of that, police said they seized five kilograms of cocaine, more than $300,000 in cash, 1.5 kilograms of ecstasy, and other drugs and weapons during their raids earlier this month.
WHAT WAS SEIZED:
$301,800 in cash
More than five kilograms of cocaine
1.5 kilograms of ecstasy
17 ounces of Ketamine
Three pounds of marijuana
More than eight kilograms of cutting agent
Drug-trafficking paraphernalia
9mm semi-automatic handgun
Sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun
Olympic arms assault rifle
Ammunitions and magazines
Ballistic vest
Nine vehicles, including one motorcycle
Six ATM machines (from four locations)
WHO IS CHARGED
Ronald Baldovi, 35, Port Coquitlam, B.C.
Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x8
Traffic in a scheduled substance x3
Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking x3
Possess of property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking
Carol Villanueva Banayos, 32, Winnipeg
Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence x4
Ronald George Morrison, 67, Winnipeg
Possess for the purpose of trafficking — cocaine x2
Trafficking cocaine
Trafficking proceeds of crime
Possess for the purpose of trafficking proceeds of crime over $5,000
Trafficking proceeds of crime over $5,000
Possess proceeds of crime x2
Rayan Dizon, 35, Winnipeg
Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x8
Traffic in scheduled substance x3 (meth, ecstasy, cocaine)
Possess property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking;
Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possess for the purpose of trafficking marijuana
Possess for the purpose of trafficking cocaine
Possess for the purpose of trafficking MDMA (ecstasy)
Possess proceeds of Crime over $5,000
Possess firearm & ammunition for purpose of trafficking
Trafficking in a firearm, device or ammunition
Possession of firearm or ammunition for the purpose of trafficking
Possession of firearm with altered serial number
Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm
Possession of firearm or ammunition for the purpose of trafficking x3
Trafficking in a firearm, weapon device or ammunition
Careless storage of a firearm x3
Possession of weapon for a dangerous purpose x3
Possession of firearm without a license x3
Possession of firearm without registration certificate x3
Possession of prohibited firearm with ammunition
Possession of firearm obtained by criminal offence;
Possession of prohibited devices (high capacity magazine) x 5.
Oliver Villanueva Banayos, 36, Winnipeg
Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x8
Trafficking cocaine
Trafficking property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possess cocaine for the purpose of trafficking
Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possess proceeds of crime x2
Philip Manh Nguyen, 28, Winnipeg
Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x4
Trafficking cocaine
Possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking x2
Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking;
Lindsey Lafrenais, 32, Winnipeg
Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x8;
Possess property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking;
Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking x3 (cocaine, meth, ecstasy)
Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000
Traffic in a scheduled substance x3 (cocaine, meth, ecstasy)
Possess for the purpose of trafficking x3 (cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana)
Possess proceeds of crime over $5,000
Baljinder Singh, 33, Winnipeg
Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x10
Traffick in a scheduled substance x3
Possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking x3
Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking
Trafficking in a firearm, weapon, device or ammunition
Possess ballistic vest without a license
Possess proceeds of crime under $5,000
Narinder Singh, 39, Winnipeg
Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x6;
Traffic in a scheduled substance — cocaine
Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possess a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking x2
Possess property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking;
Trafficking methamphetamine
Chandeep Singh Dhaliwal, 28, Howden, Man.
Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence x5
Traffic in a Scheduled Substance to with Cocaine
Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking x2
Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 for the Purpose of Trafficking
Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence x2
Trafficking a firearm, weapon & ammunition x2
Possess firearm while prohibited.
Timothy Fuller, 46, Vancouver, B.C.
Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x8
Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possess property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking
Traffic in a scheduled substance x3
Possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking x3
Cara Melissa Smith, 33, Vancouver, B.C.
Conspiracy to commit indictable offence x8
Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking
Trafficking in a scheduled substance x3
Possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking x3
Vanessa Gillies, 27, Toronto/Winnipeg
Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence x4
Possess proceeds of crime over $5,000
Possess cocaine for the purpose of trafficking
Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000
Trafficking cocaine
Possess property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking
Ryan Michael Dimaala, 32, Winnipeg
Possess cocaine for the purpose of trafficking
Possess proceeds of crime over $5,000