After charges were laid against 27 people last year following an investigation into a criminal organization in Bunibonibee Cree Nation, RCMP have announced 21 new charges. The Manitoba Integrated Law Enforcement Team launched Project Derry in June last year and found a criminal organization would bring drugs into the First Nation, such as cocaine and fentanyl, which would then be given to local drug dealers. At the time, 51 charges were laid against 27 people. The investigation continued, and after reviewing and gathering more evidence, RCMP was able to arrest or re-arrest more people with new offences. Nine of those arrests stemmed from police seizing 15 firearms during the Project Derry investigation, which resulted in weapons trafficking offences, while another five arrests were related to three shootings in June in the First Nation. The shootings happened on June 12, 13 and 16. RCMP said several people shot at homes and in one of the incidents a 50-year-old woman was hit with a pellet from a shotgun, but police said she wasn’t seriously injured. “These shooting showed a flagrant and reckless disregard for human life, with multiple homes fired upon in an apparent attempt to threaten, intimidate, and harm community members,” said Supt. Jeff Asmundson at a Tuesday news conference. From the entire year-long investigation, RCMP said 35 people have been charged, with 10 of those people being convicted. “Most importantly, we can report a 27 per cent decrease in reports of violent crime in the community since the initial arrests last fall. This includes a 55 per cent decrease in serious violent crimes such as aggravated assaults, arson and firearms-related offences,” said Asmundson. Those arrested are from four communities in the province including Winnipeg and Bunibonibee Cree Nation. Sheila North, the chief of Bunibonibee Cree Nation, said the entire community appreciates all the work done to stop crime in the area. “It means a safer community for our children, our elders, our youth, our women, and our young people and our men,” North said during the news conference. “We will continue to remain vigilant and work hard to make sure that we maintain the peace and good order in our beautiful community because our people deserve it.”
