Mounties announce one of the largest drug busts in Surrey RCMP history
Surrey RCMP say a year-long investigation into a criminal group has resulted in one of the largest seizures of illicit drugs in the agency's history.
Police say investigators with the Surrey RCMP drug unit conducted seven searches in Surrey, Coquitlam, New Westminster, Vancouver and Richmond, yielding significant amounts of cocaine, MDMA, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, along with prescription and counterfeit prescription pills.
Guns, ammunition, body armour, cars and $119,000 in cash were also seized.
Three men between the ages of 24 to 47 have been arrested, although police say multiple suspects were identified and taken into custody during the investigation. Mounties say a report to Crown recommending charges against the three men is being prepared.
A sample of the drugs seized in what the Surrey RCMP describe as one of the biggest drug busts in the detachment's history. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Staff Sgt. Glenn Leeson said the investigation began at the street level in 2023 and moved up the drug supply chain to the wholesalers and distributors.
He estimated the 36 kilos of fentanyl alone could produce hundreds of thousands of lethal street doses.
"It's a staggering amount of death and destruction, but the profits are astronomical," said Leeson.
Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards said the seizure will disrupt the drug trade in Surrey and will aid in preventing drug use in general in the community.
"We need to focus on prevention, not just treatment, so we can reduce the demand," said Edwards. "Preventing our children, our families, our brothers, our sisters from going down the road of using these drugs."
Drugs and items seized include:
36 kilograms of fentanyl.
23 kilograms of MDMA.
20 kilograms of cocaine.
23 kilograms of methamphetamine.
1,300 pills which included counterfeit oxycodone, benzodiazepines, hydromorphone, amphetamine, methylphenidate.
600 prescription Tylenol 3 and non-prescription counterfeit oxycodone pills.
16 kilograms of benzodiazepine.
8.7 kg xylazine "tranq."
One kilogram of caffeine.
One kilogram phenacetin.
Six prohibited firearms consisting of two ghost guns and four smuggled firearms from the U.S.
2024 Acura MDX.
2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
2020 Kia Forte.
Police say they seized six illegal firearms as part of the bust. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
