Hells Angels target of massive police operation

Twenty-six alleged members and associates of the Manitoba Hells Angels biker gang have been arrested following a dramatic series of police raids in Manitoba and B.C. on Wednesday, RCMP said.

Police said it's the most significant crackdown on organized crime ever in Manitoba.

The arrests were made as part of a year-long probe into the activities of the outlaw biker gang and its puppet club the Zig Zag Crew, Sgt. Line Karpish said.

More than 300 officers from Winnipeg, Brandon, Man., and the RCMP were involved in raids that began at 6 a.m. CT in Winnipeg and stretched to rural areas of the province, Karpish said.

In all, 20 locations were searched throughout the day, and one home in B.C. was also raided, police said.

The Winnipeg searches included one at the clubhouse of the Hells Angels, police confirmed.

'We're going to have less drugs on our streets. We're going to have less firearms. We've hit the source.' Const. Jason Michalyshen

There were several significant police takedowns during the morning, each involving about a half-dozen cruisers. One raid occurred at about 7:30 a.m. at McGregor Street and Dufferin Avenue in Winnipeg's North End. Another was at William Newton Avenue and Watt Street in the city's Elmwood neighbourhood.

Karpish said during the lengthy investigation, dubbed Project Divide, several seizures of various illegal and prescription drugs were made, along with weapons, cash and gang paraphernalia.

The suspects face a range of charges, from drug-trafficking to those relating to participation in a criminal organization.

Eight suspects remain wanted by police and warrants have been issued for their arrests.

Karpish said after the outstanding arrests are made, every known member of the Zig Zag Crew would be off the streets.

"That is big. It's a major impact on organized crime," Karpish said.

Winnipeg police Const. Jason Michalyshen said police believethe arrests will have a big impact on the city's drug and weapons trades.

"It's going to affect the mid-level dealers," he said. "It's going to trickle down to the lower-level dealers.

"What that boils down to is we're going to have less drugs on our streets. We're going to have less firearms. We've hit the source."

The suspects in custody range in age from 21 to 38, police said. The majority are men, but a 35-year-old woman was also arrested. Twenty-four remain in custody andare due to appear in court on Thursday, Karpish said.