Three individuals, including a high-level cocaine trafficker, a nightclub owner acting as a drug courier, and a divorced father, have admitted their involvement in a drug bust that was part of a Winnipeg police operation called Project Roasted. Mohamed Ali, Abdullah Khan, and Ahmed Dini were charged in 2024 following a lengthy investigation into a drug trafficking network. The arrests took place after police found two kilograms of cocaine in one of their vehicles outside Stella’s on Pembina Highway.
Subsequently, concerns arose that the drug investigation had been compromised by a corrupt officer, Elston Bostock. Earlier this year, Bostock was sentenced to seven years in prison for various corruption-related offenses, including providing confidential police information to external individuals. Detectives discovered evidence on Ali’s seized cellphones linking him and his associates to Bostock, indicating potential leaks of police information to organized crime figures.
Ali, a key figure in the drug trafficking ring, confessed to possessing cocaine for trafficking purposes in Winnipeg and Niverville from October 2023 to February 2024. His sentencing, expected early next year, may result in an eight-year prison term as per a joint recommendation from legal representatives.
Abdullah Khan, the Moonlight Lounge nightclub owner at the time of the investigation, admitted to transporting and distributing a significant amount of cocaine. Despite having no previous criminal record, Khan was sentenced to seven years for possession for the purpose of trafficking and for attempting to obstruct justice in a separate case involving a shooting incident at his nightclub.
Ahmed Dini, a hard-working father in his 40s with a background in assisting individuals with developmental disabilities, was also implicated in Project Roasted. Dini was found with crack cocaine in his apartment during the arrests of Ali and Khan. His involvement was attributed to personal struggles, including a divorce and financial hardships. Dini received a conditional two-year sentence followed by two years of supervised probation, as recommended by legal representatives.
Two other individuals involved in Project Roasted had their charges stayed last year, with no specific reasons provided. The case shed light on the inner workings of the drug operation and the unexpected involvement of individuals like Khan and Dini. The consequences of their actions, as highlighted by the court, underscore the far-reaching impacts on their families and communities.
