A former Winnipeg police officer, Const. Elston Bostock, has confessed to engaging in drug trafficking activities, including selling cocaine and psilocybin to civilians and fellow officers between 2016 and 2024. Bostock, who served in the Winnipeg Police Service for over 20 years before his dismissal, admitted to conducting drug transactions while on duty, including selling drugs in police station parking lots and from his police vehicle.
During a court session in Winnipeg, federal Crown attorney Janna Hyman disclosed that Bostock’s drug dealings did not appear profit-driven but rather resembled social exchanges with friends and colleagues. The drug quantities sold were for personal use, and payments for the drugs involved a combination of cash, bartered goods, and favors.
The revelation of Bostock’s drug trafficking emerged after his cellphone was confiscated by authorities in 2024 as part of an investigation known as Project Fibre. The court proceedings outlined numerous incidents where Bostock distributed drugs like psilocybin, MDMA, and cannabis to other officers, including instances where he offered drugs as birthday gifts and facilitated drug exchanges for various items.
Additionally, Bostock was found to have participated in other illegal activities, such as getting traffic tickets voided in exchange for gifts, stealing cannabis from a crime scene, sharing confidential police information, and sending inappropriate messages related to a deceased individual’s photo. The investigation into Bostock began following reports from confidential sources alleging his involvement with individuals engaged in unlawful activities.
As part of a plea deal, Bostock’s guilty pleas will prompt his defense team to request a penitentiary term, while the prosecution will seek a maximum of six years in prison for the overall charges. The sentencing hearing for Bostock’s offenses is set for the following week, pending the completion of a psychological evaluation requested by his defense counsel.