RCMP Bust Fentanyl Pill Operation in West Kelowna

Four people in West Kelowna may be facing criminal charges after RCMP raided two properties in the city on Wednesday.

On December 12th, 2015, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) told the RCMP that they had intercepted a package being imported from overseas which contained a piece of pharmaceutical equipment. The package was addressed to a man in West Kelowna who was known to police.

Kelowna RCMP Street Enforcement Unit partnered with the West Kelowna RCMP, and other RCMP Specialized Sections and eventually expanded their investigation to involve a second location.

On March 2nd, 2016, the RCMP executed a search warrant at a business in the 2600 block of Auburn Crescent with help from RCMP’s Federal Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response Team (CLEAR), the West Kelowna Fire Department, and the BC Ambulance Service.

During their search, they found about 500 “fake” Percocet and OxyContin pills, 195 grams of powder suspected to be Fentanyl, two industrial pill presses which police believe can make about 2500 pills an hour, a heavily used chemical mixer, and eight kilograms of suspected Fentanyl powder found in a shop vacuum believed to be used to clean up after pill production.

A second search warrant was also executed at a rural property in the 700 block of Petterson Road in West Kelowna. There, RCMP found about 800 “fake” OxyContin pills suspected to be laced with Fentanyl, and several gold bars, which police suspect may be related to a reported theft.

They also seized a few big items as proceeds of crime including about $40,000 in cash, a Dodge pickup truck worth about $60,000, and a Cadillac Escalade worth about $50,000.

“Police estimate that this operation has potentially produced hundreds of thousands of pills, likely distributed locally and possibly beyond,” said Sgt. Alex Lynch NCO/ic of the Kelowna RCMP SEU, in a statement.

After the nearly 3 month long investigation, four individuals are facing potential charges, including a 37-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman both of West Kelowna, a 29-year-old Kelowna man, and a 25-year-old Calgary man.

They are facing charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession for the purpose of trafficking, production of a controlled substance, and importation of a controlled substance.

“The execution of these search warrants by the Kelowna RCMP Street Enforcement Team and West Kelowna RCMP will have a serious impact in the counterfeit production and distribution of Fentanyl laced pills,” continued Lynch. “The RCMP are committed to continue to target these illegal Clandestine Labs which pose significant risks to their communities.”

The Kelowna RCMP SEU have also been successful in shutting down other similar illegal drug operations throughout the Kelowna Region over the past few months including intercepting a package of Fentanyl being sent to downtown Kelowna in November.

On December 17, 2015, they searched the 400 block of Neave Court in Kelowna. There they found an industrial grade pill press and a loaded firearm.

Investigators said the pill press showed signs of use and was heavily contaminated with Fentanyl.

A 22-year-old Kelowna woman and a 28-year-old West Kelowna man each face potential charges of importing a schedule six substance, production for the purpose of trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking, as well as possession and unsafe storage of a firearm.

On March 2nd, 2016, the Kelowna RCMP SEU executed a search warrant at a property located in the 11000 block of Cemetary Road in Lake Country, as well as another at a property in the 300 block of Sandpiper Road in Kelowna.

They found various types of illegal drugs, several firearms, including a loaded .45 calibre handgun, multiple stolen bicycles, and a set of brass knuckles.

A 56-year-old Lake Country man faces potential charges of trafficking in a controlled substance as well as a firearms related offence.