Biker gang eliminated in Manitoba, say RCMP
Manitoba’s notorious outlaw motorcycle gang, Rock Machine, has been wiped out, according to RCMP.
RCMP’s D Division announced Thursday it believes the Rock Machine biker gang is no longer operating in the province, after nearly a dozen arrests were made in the Winnipeg area.
“I think [it was] a significant day for the safety of Manitobans,” Cpl. Miles Hiebert told reporters.
On Wednesday, officers executed numerous raids, including one at Ken’s Kustom Auto, a machine shop on Wall Street near Portage Avenue. The raid closed the area to traffic for hours.
Over 140 police officers were deployed for the raid on the shop. They seized two pipe bombs and eight commercial explosives, as well as a cache of ammo and guns. About almost 6 kilograms of cocaine, 3.6 kg of marijuana and 1,800 tablets of BZP or benzylpiperazine, a synthetic drug similar to ecstasy, were also seized.
“To be doing and be executing a search warrant at a commercial premises and find something as dangerous as pipe bombs and these type of explosives, it certainly gives you pause to think,” said Hiebert.
A 2009 Audi S5, Rock Machine clothing and a “significant amount” of cash was also taken.
Lynda Wilson owns Faveri’s Wood Furniture, which is located next to Ken’s Kustum Auto, where one of the raids took place.
“My husband was here, and the RCMP came to him and asked him to evacuate,” said Wilson. “They said it was because of the possibility of a bomb next door.”
About 140 police officers coordinated the raid
RCMP said the arrests were made under Project Dilemma, which has been tracking the Rock Machine since August.
At least 11 people are now facing drug-related and firearms charges in connection with the Rock Machine raids.
Five of the 11 people arrested were alleged Rock Machine members. One of those, Joseph John Strachan, had his home in St. Vital firebombed in 2011.
Police said the firebombing was related to an ongoing biker-war with the Hells Angels.
Wilson said she was shocked to hear gang activity was happening next door to her business.
“We’ve never suspected anything like that,” said Wilson. “They keep pretty low key over there. They’re good neighbours.”
The owner of the autoshop declined to comment but said the shop will reopen once the mess left from the raid is cleaned up.
“I think our streets are safer,” said Manitoba RCMP superintendant Robert Bazin.
“It’s not to say the battle is over. It’s clearly not over. You know there’s other groups waiting in the wings and other criminals waiting in the wings to pick up the slack,” Bazin added.
RCMP Assistant Commissioner Kevin Brosseau said the arrests will cut into the drug trade in Winnipeg.
“Drug trafficking not only threatens the health and well-being of our young people, it is often linked to violence and property crime,” said Brosseau.
Additional charges are pending, according to RCMP.
“We will always be proactive,” said Bazin.
