Two women accused of acting as cocaine couriers have been arrested after they allegedly took suitcases loaded with 24 kilograms of the illicit drug on a flight from British Columbia to Winnipeg’s Richardson International Airport.
Winnipeg Police Service organized crime investigators, with help from the Brandon Police Service, became aware of a drug-trafficking network in the spring that was supplying dealers in Portage la Prairie and Brandon and the surrounding area and began an investigation.
Investigators, who began checking out several locations in Winnipeg believed to be linked to the network, observed two women leaving one of the places being watched on several occasions and heading to the city’s airport, organized crime Insp. Elton Hall told reporters Tuesday.
ERIK PINDERA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Police Service Insp. Elton Hall shows off cocaine seized from baggage at the city’s airport.
“These females generally left and returned on the same day, or within a 24-hour period,” said Hall, adding the women took multiple flights to and from B.C.
On May 11, he said, police were waiting at the baggage carousel at airport when the pair’s flight from B.C. touched down.
Once the women grabbed their checked bags and tried to leave, investigators swooped in and arrested them, then got warrants to search the bags.
Rosemary Amanda Ogoms, 32, and Jayde Renee King, 30, have each been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and released on undertakings.
The inspector added that police have concluded the investigation.
Hall said the women did not take elaborate steps to conceal the cocaine in their luggage.
“They’re just (packing) the bags full of cocaine and going on the plane,” he said, adding they were likely acting as couriers in a larger drug network with links across Canada.
Ogoms and King are due in court Aug. 12.
King has no adult criminal record, while Ogoms is pending on impaired driving charges, court records show.
erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca
Erik Pindera
Reporter
Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik.
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