Members of the Brandon Police Service Organized Crime Section entered into an investigation dubbed Project Belittle which ran from March of 2023 to October of 2023.
‘Project Belittle’ led to the identification and collection of evidence against a drug trafficking organization involved in the distribution of kilogram levels of Cocaine in the City of Brandon and surrounding communities. The leader of the drug trafficking organization imported kilograms of Cocaine into the City of Brandon and then trafficked the Cocaine primarily in multi-ounce quantities to sub-dealers within the drug network.
The investigation culminated on October 16th, 2023, following a traffic stop outside of one of the organizations “stash” locations. A kilogram of cocaine was located and seized from within the vehicle. Continued investigation led to the execution of five search warrants in Brandon and three seized vehicles which led to the seizure of 1153.19 grams of Cocaine, 0.62 grams of Methamphetamine, 325.19 grams of Psilocybin, 2648.19 grams of illicit Cannabis, 45 Oxycodone pills, $23,188 Canadian currency, .308 Riffle and a .22 caliber Rifle with loaded 100 round drum magazine. Other seized items include drug trafficking related paraphernalia, throwing knives, bear mace and a cryptocurrency account. The seized drugs carry a combined street value of approximately $163,000.
The leader of this drug trafficking organization and four associates have been arrested and charged with numerous offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and Criminal Code including Trafficking Cocaine, Possession for the Purpose Trafficking Cocaine, Possession of Proceeds of Crime, Unauthorized Possession of Firearms and Possession of Weapons for a Dangerous Purpose.
-Erich WOLF 27-year-old: Sec. 5(1) CDSA – Trafficking Cocaine, Sec. 5(2) CDSA – Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine, Sec. 5(2) CDSA – Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Oxycodone, Sec. 354(1) CC – Possession of the Proceeds of Crime over $5000, Sec. 88 CC – Possession of a Weapon Dangerous Purpose, Sec. 145(4)(a) CC – Fail to Comply with Undertaking x2, and Sec. 9(2) Cannabis Act – Possession for Purpose of Distribution.
-Daniel SPENCER 30-year-old: Sec. 5(2) CDSA – Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine, Sec. 354(1) CC – Possession of the Proceeds of Crime over $5000, Sec. 91(1) CC – Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x2, and Sec. 86(1) CC – Unsafe Storage of a Firearm x2.
-Noah JOYCE 25-year-old: Sec. 5(2) CDSA – Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Psilocybin, Sec. 88 CC – Possession of a Weapon Dangerous Purpose, and Sec. 8(1)(b) Cannabis Act – Possession of Illicit Cannabis.
-Rylan MCKINNON 22-year-old: Sec. 5(1) CDSA – Trafficking Cocaine, Sec. 5(2) CDSA – Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine, and Sec. 145(4)(a) CC – Fail to Comply with Undertaking Condition.
-Jorge MENDOZA 27-year-old: Sec. 5(2) CDSA – Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine.
