$485-million drug haul in British Columbia, Punjab-origin man arrested
The Canada Police have busted a $485 million (about Rs 3,000 crore) ‘super-lab’ of drugs and a store of loaded sophisticated weapons in Falkland, British Columbia, run by a transnational crime group dealing in fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Assistant Commissioner David Teboul, Commander of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Federal Policing programme in the Pacific Region, said in a media bulletin that Gaganpreet Randhawa of Punjab origin had been arrested in this regard.
His address in Punjab has not been disclosed.
The police seized 54 kg fentanyl, massive amounts of precursor chemicals, 390 kg methamphetamine, 35 kg cocaine, 15 kg MDMA, and 6 kg cannabis. They also seized small explosive devices, large amounts of ammunition, firearm silencers, high-capacity magazines, body armour, and $5,00,000. Investigators seized a total of 89 firearms, including 45 handguns, 21 Ar-15-style rifles, and submachine guns; many of which were loaded and ready for use. Nine of these guns have been identified as stolen.
Teboul described the ‘drug super-lab’ as the largest and most sophisticated of its kind with the capability of producing multiple types of illicit drugs’.
The police operation was part of proactive efforts to combat the domestic production, and international export of fentanyl and methamphetamine. The RCMP Federal Policing units launched an investigation into the transnational organised crime group, believed to be involved in the mass production, and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine across Canada, and internationally.
The operation began on October 25, when RCMP investigators conducted a series of coordinated enforcement actions across Metro Vancouver, and executed search warrants on the massive drug super-lab in Falkland, and associated locations in the city of Surrey, BC. During the course of the investigation, members of the RCMP Drugs and Organised Crime team found several large shipments of methamphetamine that had been prepared for shipment, and destined for international export.
Teboul said further investigation had resulted in the seizure of a very significant volume (approximately 5,000 litres, and over 10 tons of powdered precursor chemicals) of unregulated and scheduled precursor chemicals, believed to be used to produce fentanyl and MDMA.
