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[Definitie:] "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance."
(Wilmore and Costill) 
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City hub for drug
Ring shipped out to secret labs
By CARY CASTAGNA Manitoba was the hub of an international smuggling network that shipped ephedrine -- a main ingredient in the illegal drug methamphetamine -- to secret labs in western Canada and the United States, RCMP say. In a series of 34 cross-Canada raids early Wednesday morning, police charged 17 Canadians -- including 10 Manitobans -- and seized more than 20,000 pounds of ephedrine worth $14.5 million along with $3.5 million in cash. "This is a very major seizure. It's our belief that this was one of the major distribution networks in Canada, if not all of North America," said Insp. Dennis McGuffin, federal policing officer for Manitoba. "We believe Manitoba was the centre to this ephedrine distribution network." The network's starting point was Pumpuii Energy Products, a company in Thunder Bay that has been selling bodybuilding supplements since 1984.
From there, the ephedrine was funneled to Winnipeg, Lac du Bonnet and Hanna, Alta., where it was repackaged and then shipped to criminal groups in Vancouver, Buffalo, N.Y., and Sacramento, Calif., where it was believed to be manufactured into crystal meth in clandestine labs, RCMP said. Money circulated through all points, including Miami. The seized ephedrine was enough to manufacture $100 million worth of meth, an illegal and highly addictive stimulant. "There's a lot of money to be made," said Jim Loring, a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). "The mark-up is incredible." Police wouldn't discuss what crime groups were involved in the network, but at least three of the men arrested Wednesday have links to the Hells Angels. The investigation began with intelligence-gathering in 2002 and evolved into Operation Diversion in January 2004. It involved six police agencies on both sides of the border. During the investigation, information was discovered that sparked an unrelated investigation of Winnipeg police Const. Bruce Huynen, confirmed Deputy Chief Menno Zacharias. Huynen was arrested and charged on Wednesday morning -- just as the ephedrine raids were executed. Sources say Huynen is accused of communicating with at least one of the men arrested in connection with the illegal network. FORMER BOMBERS LINEMAN Among those charged with conspiracy to produce meth are former Winnipeg Blue Bombers lineman Robert Edward Blake, local bodybuilder Dave Sokalski and Rodger Patrick Bruneau (strong man - red.), who owns Trans-Canada Fitness (sportschoolketen - red.). Bruneau's 19-year-old son and 45-year-old brother were charged with similar offences. Boxer Mark Newton, also known as Mathias (Mad Dog) Hughes -- the man who beat Bomber kicker Troy Westwood in a boxing match three years ago, faces weapons charges. Several of those charged in the bust appeared in drug court yesterday. Emmanuel Barbagianis, Blake, Donald Sacino (Pumpuii president) and Sokalski were all remanded, but Mei Fun Chan, Nicholas Chyzy and Aubrey Bruneau were all granted bail on recognizances of $10,000 and sureties of equal or greater values. Cop slapped with obstruction charges
Winnipeg Sun A Winnipeg police officer found himself on the wrong end of the law yesterday, after being arrested amidst allegations of corruption and obstructing justice. Const. Bruce Huynen, a 16-year veteran of the Winnipeg Police Service, was arrested yesterday morning and slapped with a number of criminal charges, including five counts of breaching the public trust, five counts of attempting to obstruct justice and four counts of unauthorized use of a police computer. A last-minute bail hearing was held in provincial court yesterday afternoon, and Huynen, 38, was released on his own recognizance in the amount of $10,000, plus a surety or sureties in the same amount. The details of his bail hearing, which was attended by a larger-than-usual number of Crown attorneys and fellow police officers, are protected by a court-ordered publication ban. Both Crown attorney Marty Minuk and defence lawyer Hymie Weinstein declined to comment on the allegations outside court. In a written statement released late yesterday afternoon, Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Bob Johnson said the arrest resulted from a "lengthy and thorough criminal investigation" that was initiated by the Winnipeg Police Service. Huynen is alleged to have committed his offences between January and August of this year. The conditions of his release require him to surrender his passport, forbid him from leaving the province without permission and from reporting to police stations, except on court-related business, and from having contact with a number of individuals related to his alleged crimes. Police sources told The Sun that Huynen worked in the Winnipeg police street gang unit between 1999 and 2003, before he was moved to Division 11 and then the Broadway police service centre at 699 Broadway. Huynen is due back in court on Oct. 20, 2004. Drug bust surprises Hanna residents
Rick Conkin Hanna was vaulted into the spotlight last week when a local man was arrested as part of a drug sting. Charges in the case include two counts of conspiracy to produce methamphetamine and two counts of conspiracy to export a controlled substance. RCMP officers from both the local detachment and the drug unit from Edmonton descended upon an auto restoration business to execute a search warrant as part of Operation Diversion. Approximately 50 kilograms of ephedrine, one of the components used in the manufacture of the drug methamphetamine, was found in the business. The materials seized in the raid could have been used to make $1 million worth of methamphetamine. Constable Larry Peyton is satisfied that local officers were able to help in the Operation Diversion but also believes that local people should become more aware of what is happening in their community. “We are very pleased to have assisted in such a large investigation,” said Cst. Peyton. “I think an investigation and seizure of this type in a small rural town such as Hanna should be a wake up call to all of us.” Mayor Pat Burns is one of those people who was caught off guard by the drug raid in town. “I was surprised at the magnitude of the bust,” said Mayor Burns. Operation Diversion involved simultaneous raids across North America. Across Canada, more than 10,000 kg of ephedrine and $3.5 million in cash and weapons were seized. Additionally soft body armour, steroids, computers and approximately $205 thousand worth of vehicles were taken. So far, 17 individuals have either been arrested or are being sought by police. Locally, Aubrey Bruno, 44 of Hanna has been charged. DEA: Operation breaks meth ring
UPI Washington, DC -- The Drug Enforcement Administration said Thursday an international operation has erased a major source of methamphetamine materials coming in from Canada. The joint U.S.-Canadian operation was conducted by the DEA and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The DEA said the 17-month investigation, "Operation Brain Drain," eliminated the most significant source of ephedrine, a methamphetamine precursor, from Canada to the United States. The operation targeted the Armando Solis meth manufacturing and trafficking organization in central California, which has Mexican ties. The group operated throughout the Western and Central United States. The DEA said the investigation also focused on the Richie Mishal drug organization, which distributed steroids and other drugs throughout the United States. The DEA said the operation yielded 90 arrests, including five major traffickers, 92.6 pounds of meth, 2,735 pounds of ephedrine powder, and nearly 1.7 million ephedrine pills, 2 kilograms of cocaine, 62 pounds of precursor chemicals, five gallons of meth solution, 27 weapons, 11 vehicles, two large clandestine meth labs, and $3.5 million in Canadian currency. Owner of Diamond Nutrition busted and LE anticipates further arrests
High-speed chase leads to arrest
Press Tribune Police arrested a man Tuesday after a high-speed chase through East Roseville. Officers took Jeffrey Scott Stuard of Roseville into custody on six charges, including transportation and possession of drugs, evading police and multiple counts of hit-and-run. Prior to the chase, the suspect was identified by the county’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) to be in transport of a large amount of illegal steroids and police were dispatched to assist them in stopping Stuard. The vehicle Stuard was driving collided with four other vehicles in heavy traffic, reaching speeds up to 80 mph, before crashing into a power transfer box near the intersection of Lead Hill Drive and North Sunrise. SIU officers recovered an estimated $10,000 of suspected steroids from the vehicle. Stuard apparently intentionally collided with two vehicles, as well as two accidental collisions to elude officers during the chase, according to law enforcement officials. One motorist sustained minor injuries. No one else was injured during the chase. Suspects Ernest Harrison, 42, of Folsom, was arrested Tuesday and Richie Mishal, 38, of El Dorado Hills, the following day, after a two-year investigation by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Law enforcement officials said they saw Harrison hand a white bag later found to contain hundreds of steroid vials to Stuard in the parking lot of US Nutrition in the Sacramento area. Stuard then drove to Roseville and was apprehended by police after the pursuit. Harrison was charged with possession of a controlled substance and criminal conspiracy, and according to Jeff Cameron, SIU commander, was linked with Stuard during an investigation into steroid trafficking. “We began an investigation regarding the steroid distribution activities of Stuart and other individuals in the Sacramento County area who were suspected of being distributors of injectible steroids,” Cameron said. “Through the course of our investigation we were able to determine that Stuard and Harrison were conspiring to distribute steroids, and many surveillances were documented that put those two together.” Mishal is suspected of employing Harrison to coordinate covert sales of steroids, according to prosecutors, and has amassed considerable wealth from the criminal conspiracy, according to the complaint filed against him. His wealth and extensive family ties in Jordan, with the possibility of flight to that country, led to the $1 million bail. Superior Court Judge Frances Kearney took under submission a request by defense attorneys for the men to reduce the amount to $500,000. Cameron says that the investigation into local steroid trafficking is ongoing but that progress is being made as officers link the persons involved. “From our investigation, we were able to surmise that a transaction had occurred between (the suspects). Steroid trafficking has been around forever. It’s a very closed society and there are not a whole lot of people who are involved in the use of steroids. It is a huge business. But this investigation is ongoing, and we anticipate further arrests.'' |
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