Twenty-seven people have been charged so far as part of a sustained police investigation into a drug trafficking network operating on the Bunibonibee Cree Nation.

 

Project Derry was launched in June by the Manitoba RCMP Integrated Law Enforcement Team following several violent incidents that occurred in the community, The investigation uncovered a criminal drug trafficking organization involving cocaine, oxycodone, fentanyl and carfentanil. as well as  storage and dissemination of weapons.

 

The investigation also revealed that float planes were being used to fly large quantities of alcohol into the community to bootleg to residents.

 

In total, 51 charges have been laid as of Friday against 27 suspects as part of Project Derry. Eighteen of the 27 suspects live on the Bunibonibee Cree Nation, with the remaining suspects from Winnipeg and Thompson.

 

Luke Grieves, the suspected leader of the criminal network from Thompson has been charged with conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance, instruction commission of an offence for a criminal organization and recruitment of members by a criminal organization. He was arrested while in custody at Milner Ridge Correctional Centre.

 

Further arrests and charges are expected.