Pubdate: Thu, 28 Jun 2007
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2007 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact:  http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Bruce Owen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

RAID KILLED MAJOR DRUG OPERATION: COPS

CITY police believe they took out a major drug-dealing operation last 
week when officers seized 15 kilograms of cocaine worth up to $1.8 
million on the street, $525,000 in cash and 14 firearms, including 
two fully automatic sub-machine guns, an officer said Wednesday.

The stash was found on Tuesday last week in three suites in a Donald 
Street apartment block, what police allege was a centre for crack 
cocaine production and money collection.

"Cumulatively, this is the largest seizure (in Winnipeg) from one 
source that I'm aware of," organized crime unit Sgt. Rob Harding 
said, adding that officers had never seen so much money, drugs and 
guns in one place.

The Free Press reported the gun seizure earlier this week, but 
yesterday police explained the weapons were just a small part of what 
they found.

Harding would say only that investigators believe the operation is 
connected to an organized-crime group, but he would not name a specific gang.

The main suspect in the case, a 22-year-old man who says he's a 
student, refused to speak with police and immediately hired Seattle 
lawyer H. Paul Gill to represent him.

The suspect had Gill's business card when police stopped him as he 
was driving on Broadway. Police said they found two kilos of cocaine 
inside the vehicle.

Harding said police later raided the three suites rented to the 
suspect and his 23-year-old girlfriend, who faces proceeds-of-crime 
charges. Her name has not been released.

That's where they found 13 kilos of cocaine and the ingredients to 
bake brick after brick of crack cocaine. When police shut down the 
operation, they found several Pyrex cooking pans of freshly made 
crack cocaine and one batch being mixed before putting it in the 
oven. Weigh scales and boxes of baggies were also seized.

As the search continued in the other suites, officers found $525,000 
in cash, some in bundles and some sealed, and a black Ralph Lauren 
duffel bag stuffed with two Mac 11 machine-guns and 12 handguns, plus 
ammunition. Police fear the guns were up for sale.

Investigators are still tracing the origins of the guns -- five had 
serial numbers ground off -- but believe they were smuggled from the 
United States.

Police also seized an 18-karat gold Breitling wristwatch valued at 
about $25,000. Also seized was a designer Fendi wristwatch.

Officers believe the seizure will leave a big hole in the drug operation.

"This would crimp anyone's style," Harding said.

Thomaz Marcin Nataluk is charged with drug trafficking, assaulting a 
police officer and 42 weapons charges. He remains in custody.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman