Three individuals, including a high-level cocaine trafficker, a nightclub owner doubling as a drug courier, and a recently divorced father, have pleaded guilty in connection to a drug bust orchestrated by Winnipeg police. Mohamed Ali, Abdullah Khan, and Ahmed Dini were apprehended as part of an extensive investigation known as Project Roasted in 2024. The culmination of the operation saw one of the accused being arrested at home, while the other two were taken into custody outside Stella’s on Pembina Highway with approximately two kilograms of cocaine in their possession.
Subsequently, the police obtained a warrant to search one of the seized cellphones due to concerns about potential compromise in the drug investigation, with suspicions of a link between Ali and former Winnipeg police officer Elston Bostock. Bostock, a seasoned constable, was sentenced to seven years in prison this year after confessing to a range of corruption-related offenses, including sharing confidential police information with external parties.
Upon analyzing the cellphone data, authorities discovered incriminating photos of Bostock with criminal associates and text messages implicating Bostock in accessing police information for Ali and his associates.
In a recent court hearing, details emerged regarding the involvement of the three convicted men in Project Roasted and their roles in the drug operation. Ali’s cocaine trafficking activities were the trigger for Project Roasted, leading to multiple search warrants executed at his residence in Niverville, Manitoba, where significant amounts of cocaine, cash, and drug-related paraphernalia were found.
During sentencing, it was revealed that Khan, the nightclub owner, was responsible for transporting the drugs while Ali oversaw the operations. Khan, who owned the Moonlight Lounge nightclub, admitted to transporting a load of 20 kilograms of cocaine and pleaded guilty to possession for the purpose of trafficking. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to obstructing justice in a separate incident involving a shooting at his nightclub.
In a separate sentencing, Dini, described as a devoted father struggling through personal challenges, was also implicated in Project Roasted. Police discovered crack cocaine hidden in his apartment, with his lawyer explaining that Dini succumbed to temptation during a low point in his life, regretting his actions since then.
Despite facing financial hardships, Dini’s involvement in criminal activities as a father of eight children puzzled the court during sentencing. Dini received a conditional sentence followed by supervised probation as part of a joint recommendation from legal representatives.
Charges against two other co-accused in Project Roasted were dropped last year without specific reasons provided by federal prosecutors.
