Million-dollar backpack leads to charges

WINNIPEG – A year-long investigation into a bus passenger’s million-dollar backpack has led to criminal charges.

RCMP say Winnipeg city police were called to the Greyhound terminal in February 2012 and discovered a passenger with $1.3 million in cash in his backpack.

A 50-year-old man was arrested, but released without charges pending further investigation.

Several law enforcement agencies became involved, including the RCMP, the Canada Border Services Agency, Winnipeg police and the Toronto special enforcement unit.

Last month, Erwin Thomas Speckert of Minden, Ont., was charged with several proceeds of crime offences alleged to be connected to illegal gaming in Ontario.

A warrant for his arrest was obtained and he turned himself in last week.

Speckert, who is 50, has been released and is to appear in court in Winnipeg on April 22.