A report of suspected shoplifters at a McPhillips Street store Thursday turned out to be a bonanza for Winnipeg police, who seized more than $20,000 worth of drugs, a loaded gun, and more.
Officers were called to the scene just before 3 p.m., where a man and a woman had been caught by loss prevention officers for allegedly failing to pay for store property.
Police said a loaded Smith and Wesson handgun was seized, and after a search, officers turned up 67 grams of fentanyl, 130 grams of cocaine, six grams of meth, and 50 dilaudid tablets, as well as cellphones and $2,740 in cash.
A 27-year-old man is in custody, facing a laundry list of charges, including multiple counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possessing proceeds of property obtained by crime, theft, and four separate gun charges.
The other suspect, a 24-year-old woman, was released on an appearance notice, and has been charged with fentanyl possession and theft under $5,000.