A former Winnipeg police officer, Elston Bostock, who had previously admitted to various charges involving corruption and misconduct, has now confessed to selling drugs over an extended period. Bostock, who served with the Winnipeg Police Service for more than 20 years before being dismissed, acknowledged to trafficking drugs like cocaine and psilocybin from 2016 to 2024 in a Winnipeg court on Monday.
According to federal Crown attorney Janna Hyman, Bostock pleaded guilty to selling drugs while on duty as a uniformed officer, conducting transactions in police station parking lots and from his police vehicle. Hyman noted that there was no evidence suggesting Bostock’s actions were financially driven and described his drug dealings as more social in nature, often involving friends and colleagues.
The revelations of Bostock’s drug activities emerged after his cellphone was seized by authorities in 2024 during an investigation known as Project Fibre. The court proceedings detailed several instances where Bostock provided drugs like psilocybin, MDMA, and cannabis to fellow officers, including incidents where he offered drugs as gifts or traded them for goods.
Additionally, Bostock was involved in selling drugs to acquaintances, such as dropping off MDMA gummies during his night shifts and arranging for pickups of cocaine or cannabis while on duty. His illicit activities extended to coordinating drug transactions with friends and advising on travel precautions to avoid detection.
Apart from drug trafficking, Bostock had previously admitted to other offenses, including voiding traffic tickets in exchange for gifts, stealing cannabis from a crime scene, divulging confidential police information, and sending inappropriate messages related to a fatal overdose incident.
As part of a plea deal, Bostock’s lawyers will seek a penitentiary sentence, while prosecutors are expected to request a maximum of six years in prison. The sentencing for all charges, including the drug-related offenses, is set for the upcoming week pending completion of a psychological evaluation requested by his defense team.