A specialized RCMP unit has taken down the largest illicit drug lab ever found in Canada, seizing record amounts of drugs, precursor chemicals and firearms.
Asst. Commissioner David Teboul, head of the RCMP’s federal policing program in B.C., announced details of the bust at a news conference Thursday, surrounded by guns and synthetic drugs seized at the clandestine operation in Falkland, east of Kamloops.
“The precursor chemical in combination with the finished fentanyl products seized at this location could have amounted to 95 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl, which have been prevented from entering Canadian communities and markets abroad,” he said. “To put things into more context, the over 95 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl that have been seized could have taken the lives of every Canadian at least twice over.”
So far, just one person — Gaganpreet Randhawa — is facing a number of drug and firearms charges. But Teboul said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected.
In total, police seized 54 kilograms of finished fentanyl, 390 kilograms of methamphetamine, 35 kilograms of cocaine, 15 kilograms of MDMA, and six kilograms of cannabis, Teboul said.
“Investigators seized a total of 89 firearms, which included dozens of handguns, AR-style assault rifles and submachine guns, many of which were loaded and ready to use. The searches also yielded several explosive devices, a massive amount of ammunition, firearm silencers, high-capacity magazines, body armour and $500,000 in cash.”
Of particular concern were tonnes of precursor chemicals used to make crystal meth according to the Mexican cartel P2P formula which “has not been seen in Western Canada until now,” Teboul said.
He said the dismantling and clean-up of the Falkland lab has already cost more than $1 million.
“These expenditures have a direct impact on our operating budgets resources, and ultimately take away from funds that are provided by Canadians for police to do its work,” he said.
A search warrant was also executed at a Surrey property connected to the Falkland lab.
The synthetic drugs being produced were destined for both the domestic market and export, although he wouldn’t say the likely destination countries.
Postmedia has reported extensively over the last year on the expansion of Canadian gangs internationally and their role in smuggling tonnes of methamphetamine through the Port of Vancouver to the lucrative markets of Australia and New Zealand, leaving a trail of destruction in some Pacific Island nations.
Earlier this month, Postmedia also investigated B.C. “super labs” and how their operators use sophisticated methods to evade prosecution.
Teboul didn’t identify the transnational groups alleged to be involved, but Postmedia has earlier reported that Canadian gangs including the Hells Angels, Wolfpack and United Nations are working at the highest level with Mexican cartels, Asian triads and Middle Eastern organized crime groups.
The B.C. investigation and resulting seizures have “also served to deny this transactional organized crime group an estimated $485 million in profits,” Teboul said.
“This enforcement action has neutralized a key production facility that is believed to have been responsible for the production, the distribution of unprecedented qualities of fentanyl and methamphetamine, methamphetamine into Canada and abroad.”
He said his agency has been working with its “five eyes” partners, which include the U.S., U.K., Australia and New Zealand. As part of the probe, the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency “also detected and interdicted 310 kilograms of methamphetamine prior to their international departure.”
Investigators have linked the Falkland lab to a nearby property in Enderby where police recently found a huge stash of precursor chemicals, as well as a truck owned by Independent Soldiers gangster Donnie Lyons, who was shot to death in June.
Teboul praised the dedication of the investigative teams who have spent months on the case so far and “dealt a decisive blow to transnational organized crime.”
Now those “investigators are working to determine the common source of these chemicals and all individuals involved,” he said.
In response to questions, Teboul said Canadian courts need to take synthetic drug cases more seriously and hand out tougher sentences to those producing fentanyl and methamphetamine.
“I think it’s time for our justice system to catch up to the reality of the danger of these drugs,” he said. “And I think it’s time for a justice system to be increasingly stiff to this parasitic behaviour, whether it’s by people that are operating in Canada or out of Canada.”
Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add VancouverSun.com and TheProvince.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.
You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. With a subscription, you’ll get unlimited access to The Vancouver Sun online, as well as the ePaper and our app. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun.