National

Six charged, 200 kg of drugs seized in three-year investigation: Vancouver police

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Jul, 2024 11:33 AM

Police in Vancouver, B.C., say a three-year investigation has led to the arrests of six people allegedly connected to a "sophisticated" organized crime group.

Police say the probe began in November 2021, focusing on a kilogram-level drug-trafficking operation working both domestically and internationally.

They say investigators have since seized more than 200 kilograms of illicit drugs as well as seven guns and $500,000 in cash and jewelry.

The first phase of the investigation led to the seizure of three guns and 88 kilograms of illicit drugs in December 2022, and of those drugs, police say 72 kilograms were "fentanyl-laced pills disguised as generic Percocet."

Police say the second phase involved three search warrants in downtown Vancouver, leading to the seizure of 14 kilograms of fentanyl, 12 kilograms of cocaine, 17 kilograms of methamphetamine and 73 kilograms of MDMA.

They say prosecutors have now approved charges against six people ranging in age from 24 to 41, with alleged offences including possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Atmospheric river passes in southern B.C., but area rivers still rising

Rainfall warnings across Vancouver Island and the inner south coast have lifted in most areas, but the effects of British Columbia's first atmospheric river of autumn could take a little longer to ease. The B.C. River Forecast Centre posted flood watches across western Vancouver Island and for the Englishman River near Parksville, warning of levels seen only once every 10 years on some waterways.

Atmospheric river passes in southern B.C., but area rivers still rising

Tentative deal ends job action by teaching support staff at Simon Fraser University

Nearly 1,600 members launched job action on Sept. 26 after being without a collective agreement for 19 months, forcing the cancellation of tutorials, labs, lectures, office hours and the marking of assignments. Key issues included wages, class size and pensions for instructors.

Tentative deal ends job action by teaching support staff at Simon Fraser University

Overdose homicide in Nanaimo

Mounties in Nanaimo say they're investigating the fatal drug overdose of a woman back in March that they now believe was a homicide. The Nanaimo R-C-M-P says its serious crime unit is looking into the death of 52-year-old Wendy Head, who was found dead at a home in the city on March 7th.

Overdose homicide in Nanaimo

Escalating theft and violence aside, London Drugs not considering closures: president

London Drugs president Clint Mahlman says the company has no plans to close stores due to escalating violence and theft, though the issue has reached a "crisis point" for Canadian retailers. Mahlman says the company was disappointed to learn that a Vancouver city councillor said on social media that London Drugs was considering closing one of its main stores in the city, at the intersection of Granville and Georgia streets, due to crime.

Escalating theft and violence aside, London Drugs not considering closures: president

Funding for BC hospitals

Hospitals in Merrit, Oliver and Salmon Arm will get 7.5-million-dollars in permanent funding from the province to help stabilize physician emergency-room coverage. Health Minister Adrian Dix says challenges like worker recruitment and retention and the ongoing toxic-drug crisis are more prominent in rural and remote communities.

Funding for BC hospitals

IHIT officer testifies to executing DNA warrant of man accused in B.C. murder trial

Sgt-Maj. Heather Lew told a B.C. Supreme Court murder trial that she collected a few drops of blood from Ibrahim Ali's finger on Sept. 9, 2018, two days after his arrest and almost 14 months after the girl's body was found. Ali has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of the teen.