Drugs, weapons and cash seized in Brandon, Man., raid

Three men are in custody in connection to a large police raid in Brandon, Man., involving cocaine, shotguns, a crossbow and $25,000 in cash.

The seizure and arrests were part of Operation Project Derringer, a joint operation involving the Brandon Police Service, Winnipeg Police Service and Manitoba RCMP.

Police held a media conference Wednesday, displaying a number of items that were seized.

“Seven months of  investigation for Project Derringer, police were able to seize a consider amount of illicit drugs, firearms, cash and vehicles,” Deputy Chief Randy Lewis of the Brandon police said.

“It was an inter-provincial investigation that involved cross-border movement of illicit drugs.”

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Between Oct. 12 and 15, officers executed nine search warrants involving three residences, a hotel room, rural property and vehicles in  Brandon and Griswold, Man. There was also an additional search warrant executed in the Toronto area, police said.

Three men have been arrested and charged with various drug-related offences. Leslie Gerald Bisson, 36, from Griswold, Man., Justin Tyler Reimer, 28, from Brandon and Javed Ali, 29, from Georgetown, Ont. all remain in custody and further charges are pending, police said.

“There is evidence that the men charged were part of a drug trafficking network supplying not only Brandon, but various parts of western Manitoba with various drugs,” Lewis added.

Items seized

• Three kilograms of cocaine.
• 1.5 kilograms of marijuana.
• One kilogram of methamphetamine.
• Around $25,000 in cash.
• One hand gun.
• One semi-automatic assault-style rifle.
• One crossbow.
• Seven additional firearms.
• Ammunition.
• Several vehicles.

Brandon police said they knew there was a “significant drug dealer” in the area and hopes the seizure – and the arrests of three men – should help stop a recent spike in violence in the city.

“The past few weeks have been difficult ones for the City of Brandon,” Lewis said. “I am well aware that the recent gun violence created fear within our community.”

“We believe that the recent shootings are linked to those arrested,” said Lewis.