Police target heroin-meth ‘chitta’ traffickers in separate investigations

More than a dozen people have been charged after Winnipeg police busted two sophisticated drug-trafficking rings selling a mixture of heroin and methamphetamine called “chitta.”

The first investigation, “Project Khallas,” began in May 2024 and ended in October. A second probe dubbed Project “Black Dragon” operated this year between June and September.

Project Khallas involved mobile traffickers — also called “dial-a-dealers” — selling the drugs, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Thursday.

After obtaining search warrants, the drug-enforcement unit raided homes on Oakburn Place in the Maples, Peter Sosiak Bay in Transcona and Daylan Marshall Gate in the Leila North neighbourhood, and on Lewin Lane in West St. Paul, on Oct. 30.

Police seized about 105 grams of heroin with an estimated street value of $58,000 and about 22 grams of meth worth an estimated $1,100, the WPS said. Officers also seized a vacuum sealer, packaging materials, Canadian and U.S. cash and identity documents.

Police identified Neelam Grewal, 53, as the head of the organization. He is charged with trafficking heroin, possession for the purpose of trafficking heroin and methamphetamine, possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000, laundering and breaching conditions of a suspended sentence and release orders. He was detained in custody.

Six other people between the ages of 36 and 49 were arrested and released on undertakings. They have since been charged with drug trafficking-related offences.

Project Black Dragon began in June after investigators determined a new group of people had taken over the operation of the dismantled drug-trafficking network busted in Project Khallas.

Police raided two homes on Saphire Place and Drimes Place — both in the Leila North area — and searched five vehicles linked to the addresses on Sept. 9. The WPS said parcel-delivery companies dropped off drugs at one of the homes.

Investigators seized more than 800 grams of chitta worth an estimated $168,600, and other items including 12 legally owned guns, the WPS said.

Sunshine House peer support co-ordinator Elora Gamblin, who works on the non-profit’s Mobile Overdose Prevention Site that offers to test street drugs for users, said she has not yet come across chitta.

“This is news to me,” she said, but noted a drug cocktail she has encountered was a mixture of meth and “down,” — typically a mixture of the opioids fentanyl and carfentanyl that sometimes includes heroin.

The drug-testing and supervised consumption site currently can’t test street drugs after it’s converted RV was totalled in a hit-and-run, forcing it to relocate its services to a donated ambulance. Sunshine House applied for a federal exemption to install a new drug-testing machine, which is still being reviewed, according to Health Canada records.

Police did not make anyone from the drug enforcement unit available for an interview Thursday. WPS spokesman Const. Claude Chancy said some of the suspects are known to police.

The WPS news release said Jagwinder Singh Brar, 45, was the head of the revamped drug organization. He has been charged with multiple offences related to drugs and the proceeds of crime.

Five other people between the ages of 19 and 40 were released on undertakings and have since been charged with drug trafficking-related offences.

The Canada Border Services Agency helped police in the investigations.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca