Five people have been arrested and a massive amount of illegal drugs, including fentanyl, were seized along with cash and firearms following a months-long drug trafficking investigation by B.C.’s anti-gang police unit.
Over the 10-month long investigation, which began in July 2020, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC) gathered evidence on “the alleged drug trafficking activities of a drug distribution network with ties to the Lower Mainland gang conflict,” according to a news release.
Eight search warrants were executed on residences in the Vancouver area, and another five search warrants were executed on vehicles.
As a result of these raids, CFSEU-BC seized 9.24 kilograms of fentanyl, 4.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, one kilogram of cocaine and approximately $130,000 in cash.
An assault rifle, six handguns and five vehicles were also seized.
“While CFSEU-BC and our partner law enforcement agencies’ coordinated and overt gang suppression efforts continue, the public should be aware that numerous specialized enforcement teams are operating in the background,” said Supt. Duncan Pound, of CFSEU-BC.
“The operations teams at CFSEU-BC continue to use a wide variety of investigative strategies to gather evidence and take drugs, firearms and dirty cash out of the hands of criminals.”
The amount of fentanyl seized is significant, according to the CFSEU-BC, and equates to taking about 443,520 potential lethal doses of the drug off the streets.
The anti-gang unit added the firearms seizures were also key given “during this time of heightened gang violence.”
The firearms will be sent to the Provincial Forensic Firearms Lab, managed by CFSEU-BC, for processing.
Five people with links to the organized crime and drug trafficking network were arrested, however, they have since been released from custody as the investigation continues.
Investigators will also begin preparing to seek charge approval for “several” Criminal Code and drug related offences, according to the news release.
Vancouver Police and Burnaby RCMP also assisted with the investigation.
