Nine-month long homicide, gang investigation leads to 11 facing charges

The Winnipeg Police Service believes gang activity is involved in multiple 2019 homicides as well as cocaine trafficking in Winnipeg.

After investigating for nine months, the WPS is releasing details regarding what they allege is a string of serious crimes in Winnipeg.

Inspector Shawn Pike of the Major Crimes Division says that the homicides are "not a regular occurrence" in Winnipeg. Pike says officers investigated the case of two homicides in Winnipeg for hundreds of hours, finding more criminal activity as they investigated.

On November 2, a 23-year-old, Jamshaid Wahabi, was shot and killed inside Citizen Nightclub in the Exchange District surrounded by bystanders. Wahabi was shot after two rival criminal organizations allegedly got into a dispute.

Two days later, on November 4, a 20-year-old named Rig Moulebou was shot and killed. Police believe it was in retaliation to the November 2 homicide at South Pointe area home.

After discovering the events were gang-related, WPS investigators began looking into known gang associates.

While leaving Wahabi's funeral on November 7, police pulled over Rami Hagos, a 25-year-old man. Police discovered that Hagos was in possession of a trafficked .50 calibre Desert Eagle handgun. Authorities say the gun was trafficked by a straw purchaser.

The next day, on November 8, WPS crews searched Marine Drive under a warrant, finding 22 firearms including four .50 calibre Desert Eagle handguns. Police conclude that the weapon seized on November 7 was part of this collection.

A 41-year-old man, Shane Kulathungam, was charged by police with two firearm-related offences.

Several months later, from February 28 to March 27, three suspects were arrested regarding the death of Rig Moulebou.

Later, in April, police led a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant at three locations in relation to the ongoing investigation. On April 20, in the first 100 block of Huppe Bay, the first 100 block of Creek Bend Road and the 200 block of Bonaventure East were searched.

Police say they found:

- Approximately 5 kilograms of cocaine (estimated street value of $450,000)
- Approximately 2.5 kilograms of a cutting agent
- Approximately $190,000 in Canadian currency
- A large amount of packaging material along with a money counter and a scale.
- 13 mobile phones
- Gold jewellery (estimated value of $20,000)

The WPS says some suspects were charged in relation to other offences, and police say others were charged regarding benefiting a criminal organization.

Javaid Wahabi, a 23-year-old male of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

- First Degree Murder (Rig Moulebou)
- Conspiracy to Commit Murder
- Utter Threats
- Utter Threats in Association with a Criminal Organization

Manuchehr Haroon, a 23-year-old male of Brandon, has been charged with:

- First Degree Murder (Rig Moulebou)
- Conspiracy to Commit Murder

Abdullahi Abdulrehman Mohamed, a 24-year-old male of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

- First Degree Murder (Rig Moulebou)
- Conspiracy to Commit Murder
- Kidnapping

Rami Hagos, a 25-year-old male of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

- Attempted Murder (Citizen Nightclub)
- Attempted Murder in Association with a Criminal Organization
- Discharge a Firearm Into or At a Place in a Reckless Manner
- Use of Firearm During Commission of an Indictable Offence
- Careless Use of Firearm, Weapon, Prohibited Device or Ammunition
- Possession of a Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm
- Possession of Firearm, Restricted/Prohibited Weapon or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order (x 2)
- Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized (x 2)
- Possession of a Loaded, Restricted Firearm while Prohibited (x 2)
- Possession of a Loaded, Restricted Firearm while Prohibited in Association with a Criminal Organization
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle
- Possess Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
- Fail to Comply Condition Recognizance by Judge/Justice (x 5)

Haben Nipsey Weldekidan, a 26-year-old male of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

- Utter Threats
- Utter Threats in Association with a Criminal Organization
- Assault
- Assault in Association with a Criminal Organization

Mohammad Moradi, a 22-year-old male of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

- Participation in Criminal Organization

Charles Kiniki, a 21-year-old male of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

- Fail to Comply Condition Recognizance by Judge/Justice (x 2)

Zuhair Mohammad-Zarif, a 25-year-old male of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

- Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine
- Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
- Possession of Firearm, Restricted/Prohibited Weapon or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order

Zuhur Mohammad-Zarif, a 28-year-old male of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

- Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine
- Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000

Zubair Mohammad-Zarif, a 29-year-old male of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

- Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine
- Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000

Stefany Dayana Castro Alvarez, a 25-year-old female of Winnipeg, has been charged with:

- Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000