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Police have made a number of arrests in a major drug operation called Project Deplete, a long-term investigation by the Manitoba Integrated Organized Crime Task Force.

More than 80 officers made arrests and seized more than a million dollars worth of drugs, say police.

A total of 13 people have been charged. Among the arrested is former Hell's Angel member Billy Bowden, who was charged with three counts of trafficking cocaine and two counts of possessing the proceeds of a crime.

"We've had a lot of success in the last while with the Hell's Angels, taking them off the street, the Zig Zag Crew and others," said Winnipeg Police Chief Keith McCaskill. "When that happens quite often there is a void left open and there is people jockeying for position."

Officers seized: 6,912 grams of cocaine, 465 grams of crack cocaine, 272 grams of methamphetamine, 9,811 ecstasy tablets, 1,063 grams of MDMA, 501 oxycodone tablets and 891 grams of marihuana.

Police says six other individuals have been charged and warrants are out for their arrests.

Those taken into custody today include: William Lauren Bowden, Joshua James Lyons, Chi Hong Do, Christopher Lea Murrell, Pardeep Kapoor, Joshua Robert Charney, all of Winnipeg and Ramsey Yaggey of Edmonton.

Police say all of the arrested will be appearing in a Winnipeg court on February 6.

The following individuals have been charged and are wanted by police: Dalton MILLER-21 years, Kareem MARTIN- 31 years, Elmer John DEATO- 26 years, Dane SAWATZKY- 27 years, Mark BEITZ- 31 years and David Thomas- 29 years, all of Winnipeg.

Project Deplete began in August and focuses on high level independent drug traffickers in Winnipeg and around the province. Officers from the Winnipeg Police Service, RCMP and Brandon Police Service participated in Friday's bust.

Police say more charges could be laid against additional individuals following further investigation.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the wanted individuals is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 786-8477.

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