Three individuals, including a prominent cocaine trafficker, a nightclub proprietor acting as a drug messenger, and a recently divorced father, have admitted to their involvement in a drug sting operation in Winnipeg. Mohamed Ali, Abdullah Khan, and Ahmed Dini were arrested in 2024 as part of Project Roasted, an extensive probe into a drug distribution network. The culmination of the investigation led to one suspect apprehended at home and the other two taken into custody outside Stella’s on Pembina Highway with around two kilograms of cocaine in their possession.
Subsequently, investigators obtained a warrant to scrutinize one of the suspect’s confiscated cellphones due to suspicions that the drug inquiry had been compromised. There were concerns that the phone data would establish a connection between Ali, his associates, and former Winnipeg police officer Elston Bostock, who was later sentenced to seven years in prison for various corruption-related offenses, including divulging confidential police information.
Upon examining the cellphone data, authorities discovered photos of Bostock with individuals described as “criminal associates” and text messages indicating Bostock assisting in looking up police information for them. Recent court proceedings shed light on the backgrounds of the three convicted men in the case and how they became entangled in the drug network.
Ali, deemed a high-level cocaine trafficker, orchestrated drug trafficking activities that sparked Project Roasted, as revealed during a hearing. The subsequent search of Ali’s residence in Niverville, Manitoba, uncovered cocaine, cash, and related paraphernalia, along with the two kilograms seized during the arrests at Stella’s.
Khan, identified as the drug courier, was the owner of Moonlight Lounge nightclub and had no prior criminal record. He confessed to transporting a substantial amount of cocaine and obstructing justice in a separate incident, leading to a total sentence of seven years. Judge Kael McKenzie expressed bewilderment over Khan’s involvement but noted the connections often found in nightclub environments.
Dini, a father of eight, was described as a hardworking individual who became involved in drug activities during a difficult period, resulting in his arrest with crack cocaine in his possession. Despite his financial struggles, Dini was sentenced to a two-year conditional sentence and two years of supervised probation.
Charges against two other suspects in Project Roasted were dropped, with federal prosecutors declining to disclose specific reasons for the decision. These developments shed light on the intricate web of drug trafficking and corruption that unfolded in Winnipeg, underscoring the repercussions faced by those involved.