RM of Stuartburn site of drug arrest in 19-month weapons, drug trafficking investigation

The RM of Stuartburn was the site of a drug and weapons bust of a 47-year-old man as part of a 19-month investigation.

Project Dolor, had nine policing and justice agencies in Manitoba and the United States, working to end a drug and weapons trafficking network in several southern Manitoba communities. The investigation resulted in 15 people being arrested and the seizure of 10 kilograms of illegal drugs and numerous weapons.

“The efforts of officers working on Project Dolor have been successful in dismantling a criminal network and disrupting the local drug trade in several communities,” said Assistant Commissioner Scott McMurchy, the RCMP’s commanding officer in Manitoba.

One of the people arrested by the RCMP is RM of Stuartburn resident David Penner, 47, who has been charged with trafficking cocaine; possession for the purposes of trafficking cocaine; possession for the purpose of trafficking psilocybin; unlawful possession of a firearm; and unsafe storage of a firearm.

Project Dolor is a joint investigation involving the Winkler Police Service and the Manitoba Integrated Law Enforcement Team, which investigates serious and organized crime. The investigation was launched in December 2024 after Winkler officers approached RCMP for support after learning multiple kilograms of cocaine were being imported to Winkler-area businesses.

Over the next 19 months, RCMP and Winkler officers gathered evidence. The operation expanded in size and scope over time as it became clear other types of drugs and some weapons were also being trafficked.

Police seized eight kgs of cocaine; 2.5 kgs of psilocybin; 13 restricted handguns, three of which were illegally trafficked; 44 non-restricted firearms, the majority of which were unlawfully stored; thousands of rounds of various ammunition; four vehicles with a combined cash value of about $110,000; 228 cartons of unstamped tobacco; and $4,500 in cash.

A number of arrests were made in the past month and supported by search warrants that were executed at a mix of residential and commercial properties in Winkler, the RM of Stuartburn, Thornhill, La Riviere, and McCreary.

In total, 67 charges have been laid so far as part of the ongoing investigation – including 29 levelled against Tyler Thorvaldson, a 29-year-old Carman man. Thorvaldson was arrested in February by RCMP Traffic Services, who found two kgs of cocaine and a prohibited handgun during a traffic stop on Highway 2. He remains in custody.

The suspects – 14 males and one female – live in 10 different Manitoba communities. Charges have been laid against 13 of the 15 suspects, with charges pending against two Winnipeg men who were recently arrested. Three suspects remain in custody.

Further charges and arrests are expected as part of this investigation.

A number of RCMP units have provided assistance to Project Dolor at various stages of the investigation, including Pembina Valley RCMP, officers from the RCMP West and East District General Investigation Sections, RCMP Traffic Services, the Cyber and Financial Crimes Unit, Digital Forensic Services, Forensic Identification Services, the National Weapons Enforcement Support Team and the Emergency Response Team.

Other organizations also assisted in the investigation, including the Regional Service Tactical Team, the Winnipeg Police Service, Morden Police Service, the Manitoba Criminal Intelligence Centre, Manitoba Justice, the Canada Revenue Agency, and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.