Man arrested in series of Winnipeg convenience store arsons faces new charges

One of the five people arrested last year as part of an extortion and arson investigation is now facing additional charges.

An Ontario man previously arrested in connection with a string of arsons that targeted Winnipeg convenience stores last summer is facing new charges.

The Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) said investigators believe Jahaid Hossain Maruf, 26, was involved in planning, organizing and orchestrating the series of incidents that unfolded in July 2025.

Police said the Kitchener, Ont., man, who was previously charged in October with two counts of extortion, was rearrested at the Winnipeg Remand Centre last week. He now faces a number of additional arson and extortion-related offences.

He is one of five arrested in connection with the cluster of incidents that began in July 2025. Police previously said Winnipeg businesses, including convenience stores and an unoccupied warehouse, were specifically targeted.

“During this investigation, it was learned a group of individuals, some from Winnipeg and others from Eastern Canada, were sent to threaten and extort local business owners, using arson as a weapon,” Insp. Jennifer McKinnon of the major crimes division said in January.

While multiple locations were targeted, McKinnon said each business was a stand-alone store and not part of a larger company.

Five suspects were previously arrested in January, while Canada-wide arrests were issued for two other suspects, 29-year-old Farhan Nabil and 40-year-old Jermaine Weekes.

Police said Wednesday those men remain at large.

Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers.

None of the allegations have been tested in court.

With files from CTV’s Devon McKendrick