The Winnipeg Police Service says a man and woman are facing drug trafficking charges after police attempted to search a hotel suite but found their suspects fleeing in a taxi instead.

On Sunday, officers executed a search warrant at a hotel suite in the Sargent Park area. When members of the Guns & Gangs Unit, along with the Tactical Support Team and West District officers, arrived that evening, they found two suspects exit a taxi at the hotel, but then jumped back inside once they saw police.

Now driving on Sargent Avenue and Strathcona Street, police tried to stop the taxi as the male suspect threw items out of the taxi's window. The taxi then stopped and the man ran from the police. The other suspect, a woman, remained in the vehicle and was brought into custody.

Police learnt that approximately 75 grams of fentanyl (an estimated street value of $15,000) and 8 grams of methamphetamine (an estimated street value of $800) were the items the man threw out of the taxi's window.

Now tracking the fleeing man, the help of AIR1 was used, finding the man trying to hide under a truck in the 1100 block of Strathcona Street.

He was brought into custody. 

Inside the taxi, officers found:

  • a 22 calibre sawed-off bolt action rifle
  • 15 rounds of .22 ammunition with a magazine
  • a can of bear spray
  • a mobile phone
  • a money counter
  • $3,600 in Canadian currency
  • a scale

The 33-year-old Winnipeg man is now facing:

  • Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Methamphetamine
  • Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Fentanyl
  • Careless Storage of Firearm, Weapon, Prohibited Device or Ammunition
  • Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in Motor Vehicle
  • Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
  • Possession of a Weapon
  • Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
  • Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
  • Possession of Firearm, Restricted/Prohibited Weapon or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order (x4)

The 23-year-old Winnipeg woman is being charged with:

  • Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Methamphetamine
  • Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Fentanyl
  • Careless Storage of Firearm, Weapon, Prohibited Device or Ammunition
  • Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in Motor Vehicle
  • Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
  • Possession of a Weapon
  • Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
  • Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm

She is currently released on an Appearance Notice. The man is in custody.