(CBC News) – A former Mountie is one of dozens of people arrested Wednesday in Manitoba’s largest ever organized-crime raids.
RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Line Karpish confirmed that Wayne Shuttleworth, 39, worked for the force in the early 1990s. He has been identified as a member of the Zig Zag Crew, an arm of the Hells Angels.
Heavily armed members of the city police tactical support team arrested Shuttleworth at his Winnipeg home early Wednesday.
He has been charged with participating in a criminal organization, trafficking a firearm, possession of the proceeds of crime and conspiracy to launder money.
Court documents obtained by CBC News show Shuttleworth was an RCMP member posted in Manitoba between 1991 and 1994.
In all, 33 people were arrested in Project Divide, a joint investigation involving the Winnipeg police and RCMP that started in the fall of 2008.
The raids were launched at 6 a.m. on Wednesday across the city, as well as in Brandon and rural areas of the province. One home in British Columbia was also raided, RCMP said.
Police say the raids have resulted in the arrests of all known and active Zig Zag members.
Due to the covert and high-risk nature of the investigation, the Crown has elected to directly indict each suspect, meaning they will proceed directly to trial without evidence against them being previewed and tested at a preliminary hearing.
CBC News has learned that the backbone of Project Divide is evidence gathered by a paid informant — a Zig Zag Crew member who is now in witness protection.
Court documents show the informant, whom the RCMP refer to as “the Agent,” was Michael Jeff Satsatin.
According to the material, Satsatin was a member of the Zig Zag gang when police launched their investigation. His involvement included wearing recording devices to gang meetings and providing detailed information to police about the connections between Zig Zag and the Hells Angels.
Satsatin is to be paid $450,000 — plus expenses — for his information. The exact total and when the money was to be paid were not disclosed.
Satsatin, whose age was not provided, has no criminal record.
Police also used wiretaps and other surveillance methods to collect evidence, according to court documents.
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