Three individuals, including a high-level cocaine trafficker, a nightclub owner doubling as a drug courier, and a newly divorced father, have admitted to various roles in a drug bust conducted by Winnipeg police. Mohamed Ali, Abdullah Khan, and Ahmed Dini were apprehended in connection with Project Roasted, an extensive investigation targeting a drug trafficking network. The arrests occurred after police intercepted two kilograms of cocaine being transported by Khan and Ali outside Stella’s on Pembina Highway.
Subsequent to the arrests, concerns arose about potential police corruption compromising the investigation, leading to a search of seized cellphones for connections between Ali and his associates with former Winnipeg police officer Elston Bostock. Bostock, a veteran constable, was sentenced to seven years in prison for multiple corruption-related offenses, including sharing confidential police information with external parties.
Inspection of the cellphone data revealed incriminating photos of Bostock with criminal associates and text messages suggesting Bostock assisted in accessing police information for Ali and others. The recent court proceedings unveiled details about the convicted trio in the case and their involvement in the drug operation.
Federal prosecutors disclosed that Ali’s cocaine trafficking activities sparked Project Roasted, leading to repeated covert entries at his residence in Niverville, Manitoba, where investigators discovered cocaine, cash, cutting agents, and drug-related items. Ali, overseeing drug meetings, was identified as a high-level trafficker with decision-making authority in the operation.
During Khan’s sentencing, it was revealed that he owned the Moonlight Lounge nightclub and had no prior criminal record. Khan confessed to trafficking cocaine and obstructing justice, receiving a total of seven years in prison. The judge expressed bewilderment at Khan’s involvement but acknowledged the nightclub environment’s potential connections to illicit activities.
In a separate sentencing, Dini, described as a hard-working father struggling with personal challenges, was arrested with crack cocaine in his apartment during the drug bust. Despite financial difficulties, Dini agreed to store drugs during a vulnerable period in his life, expressing remorse for his actions. The judge highlighted the severe impact of Dini’s actions on his family and sentenced him to a conditional two-year term followed by supervised probation.
Charges against two other individuals implicated in Project Roasted were dropped last year, with federal prosecutors declining to provide specific reasons for the decision.