WINNIPEG — NATIONAL NEWS – The ongoing battle between police and drug traffickers continues. A months-long investigation by the Winnipeg Police Service’s Organized Crime Unit has led to the seizure of over $2.2 million in illegal drugs and the arrest of a 49-year-old man suspected of trafficking methamphetamine and cocaine.
Initiated in April 2025, the investigation focused on the distribution of illicit drugs within Winnipeg. Officers uncovered a large-scale trafficking operation that involved multiple properties and an attempt to ship cocaine through the mail.
The investigation culminated on May 15, when officers arrested George David MacFarlane, 49, as he was leaving a residence in the 100 block of La Verendrye Street. The arrest was followed by coordinated search warrants at three Winnipeg addresses:
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The 100 block of La Verendrye Street
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The 100 block of Noble Avenue
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The 200 block of Mapleglen Drive
The searches, supported by the Tactical Support Team and East District Community Support Unit, resulted in the recovery of:
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43 kilograms of methamphetamine
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1,968 grams of cocaine
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$150,000 in Canadian currency
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Packaging supplies, scales, a vacuum sealer, and other paraphernalia
MacFarlane has been charged with:
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Possession of Methamphetamine for the Purpose of Trafficking
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Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking
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Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5,000
Despite the magnitude of the seizure, MacFarlane was released on an Undertaking pending further court proceedings.
Local Context for Thunder Bay Readers: This Winnipeg bust reflects ongoing concerns about organized drug trafficking in mid-sized Canadian cities — a threat that has also touched communities in Northwestern Ontario. The scale of this seizure underscores the need for coordinated enforcement strategies, something Thunder Bay Police have similarly emphasized amid rising meth and cocaine activity in the region.
