On February 14, 2018, RCMP officers raided two homes in Grand Rapids, Manitoba, arresting four people. Officers arrested another person in Winnipeg and one more at Headingley Correctional Centre for gang-related drug trafficking.
Since September 2017, officers with the RCMP Manitoba Integrated Gang Intelligence Unit have been investigating a Manitoba Warriors cocaine trafficking network supplying drugs from Winnipeg to the Grand Rapids area.
On November 12, 2017, Manitoba Warriors member (Striker) Bobby Hudson, and Terry Smith, his driver, were arrested on Highway 6 as they were en route to Grand Rapids. A search of the vehicle located a 567 gram package of cocaine. Police also seized Hudson's Manitoba Warriors vest. Both were released at a later date.
Through continued investigation, investigators were able to connect the transport of the drugs to Harvey Cook Jr., a full patch member of the Manitoba Warriors, and to his parents Harvey James Cook Sr. and Madeline Cook. Cook Jr. was arrested at Headingley Correctional Centre, where he is in custody on Impaired Driving charges, while his parents were arrested at their home in Grand Rapids.
The final arrest on February 14, 2018, was of Cook Jr.'s supplier Jesse Richard Thomas of Winnipeg. Thomas is also an associate of the Manitoba Warriors.
During the arrests, two firearms were seized, a rifle and a shotgun. A collapsible baton was also seized.
"Illegal drugs are insidious and fund many different types of crime," said Sgt. Paul Manaigre of the Manitoba RCMP. "Our officers and intelligence experts worked tirelessly on this investigation for many months in order to take not only drugs and guns, but gang members off the street. The RCMP has seen the destruction caused by the trafficking of illicit drugs, and we will continue to enforce the laws against this to their fullest extent."
The following charges have been laid, and the investigation continues.
Harvey Cook Jr., 29, Grand Rapids, remains in custody:
- Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine
- Conspiracy to Possess the Proceeds of Crime
Jesse Richard Thomas, 33, Winnipeg, remains in custody:
- Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine
Bobby Raymond Hudson, 26, Grand Rapids, in custody:
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine
- Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine
- Conspiracy to Possess the Proceeds of Crime
Terry Andrew Smith, 27, Grand Rapids, released:
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine
- Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine
Madeline Cook, 59, Grand Rapids, released:
- Conspiracy to Possess the Proceeds of Crime
Harvey James Cook Sr., 56, Grand Rapids, released:
- Conspiracy to Possess the Proceeds of Crime