BURST
A B.C. fugitive linked to the Wolfpack gang alliance has been arrested in Cancún, Mexico, after four years on the run.
Several Mexican media outlets reported that Denis Ivziku, 28, was picked up in the Caribbean coastal city by Mexican authorities earlier this month after receiving information on his whereabouts from the RCMP.
Ivziku, the brother-in-law of convicted Hells Angel and Wolfpack gangster Damion Ryan, was one of 22 people charged in 2022 after a years-long international drug investigation that began in Manitoba, called Project Divergent.
An Interpol warrant had been issued for the arrest of Ivziku, who is from the Lower Mainland, with periodic news releases over the last four years seeking information about his location.
Ivziku is charged with drug trafficking, conspiracy to traffic and possession of property obtained by crime.
The Project Divergent investigation targeted drug smuggling networks across Canada and around the globe. Police said at the March 2022 news conference announcing charges that drugs were flowing from Mexican cartels into Manitoba.
During the investigation, officers seized 110 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of $11 million, 41.4 kilograms of methamphetamine worth $8 million, three kilograms of fentanyl valued at $50 million and half-a-kilogram of MDMA or ecstasy worth $70,000. Police said they also seized 14 handguns, five assault-style rifles, and more than $445,000 in cash.
The Mexican news reports said Ivziku was arrested after a joint operation by the Mexican navy, the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, and the Federal Prosecutor’s Office.
The agencies released photos of Ivziku with a black bar over his face standing in front of a jet, with representatives of the law enforcement agencies beside him.
Rivera Maya News reported that Ivziku had maintained a relationship with the Hells Angels while in Quintana Roo state.
Asked about the reports on Tuesday, Manitoba RCMP Cpl. Melanie Roussel said in an email that she would be able to “respond once we have more information.”
Last December, Manitoba Court of King’s Bench Justice Chris Martin convicted Ryan , a full-patch member of B.C.’s Haney Hells Angels’ chapter, of conspiracy to traffic in drugs, conspiracy to possess proceeds of crime and conspiracy to benefit a criminal organization. He is awaiting sentencing, while also facing criminal charges in both Ontario and the U.S.
Martin found Ryan was a key member of the Wolfpack gang alliance who was “directing a high-level drug organization that could source significant quantities of cocaine, meth and fentanyl, from Vancouver to Winnipeg, along with handguns and protection to support the drug operation.”
Martin also noted evidence from a key witness, dubbed Agent 66 at Ryan’s trial, pointed to Ivziku’s role in the drug conspiracy.
“Mr. Ivziku (also known as Menace, Elvis, terp, super gremlin, grimmer, ep), is another alleged co-conspirator,” Martin said.
The judge said in his written decision that after the death of another alleged conspirator in Vancouver, Ivziku “stepped in” to become Agent 66’s supplier.
Ivziku told 66 that he and an associate “were running the operation because Mr. Ryan was not in Vancouver.” He the agent a total of 32 kilograms of meth, over one kilogram of processed fentanyl and 1.5 kilograms of high quality cocaine on four occasions in 2021 and 2022, the ruling said.
“Mr. Ivziku had direct communications with Mr. Ryan about supply, preparing and selling fentanyl, meth and cocaine, and transportation of such drugs to Winnipeg,” Martin said.
Blueksy: @kimbolan.bsky.social