BC RCMP take down largest fentanyl and meth ‘superlab’ ever

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A specialized RCMP unit has dismantled the largest illegal drug laboratory ever found in Canada and seized record amounts of drugs, precursors and firearms.

Assistant. Commissioner David Teboul, head of the RCMP’s federal policing program in B.C., announced details of the arrest at a news conference Thursday, surrounded by weapons and synthetic drugs seized during the clandestine operation in Falkland, east of Kamloops.

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“The precursor chemical combined with the finished fentanyl products seized at this location could have amounted to 95 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl, preventing access to Canadian communities and markets abroad,” he said. “To put things into more context, the more than 95 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl seized could have cost the life of every Canadian at least twice over.”

So far, only 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 kilos of finished fentanyl, 390 kilos of methamphetamine, 35 kilos of cocaine, 15 kilos of MDMA and six kilos of cannabis, Teboul said.

“Investigators seized a total of 89 firearms, including dozens of handguns, AR-style assault rifles and submachine guns, many of which were loaded and ready to use. The searches also turned up several explosive devices, a massive amount of ammunition, firearm silencers, high-capacity magazines, body armor and $500,000 in cash.

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Of particular concern were the tons of precursor chemicals used to make crystal meth under the Mexican cartel’s P2P formula, which “has not been seen in Western Canada until now,” Teboul said.

He said the dismantling and clean-up of the Falklands laboratory has already cost more than $1 million.

“These expenditures have a direct impact on the resources of our operating budgets and ultimately drain the resources provided by Canadians so that police can do their jobs,” he said.

A search warrant was also executed at a property in Surrey linked to the Falklands laboratory.

The synthetic drugs produced were intended for both the domestic market and export, although he would not say what the likely destination countries would be.

Postmedia has reported extensively over the past year about the international expansion of Canadian gangs and their role in smuggling tons of methamphetamine through the Port of Vancouver into the lucrative markets of Australia and New Zealand, leaving a trail of destruction in some Pacific island nations.

Earlier this month, Postmedia also investigated “super labs” in BC and how their operators use sophisticated methods to evade prosecution.

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Teboul did not identify the transnational groups believed to be involved, but Postmedia has previously reported that Canadian gangs, including the Hells Angels, Wolfpack and the United Nations, are working at the highest levels with Mexican cartels, Asian triads and organized crime groups from the Middle East.

The BC investigation and resulting seizures have “also resulted in depriving this transactional organized crime group of an estimated $485 million in profits,” Teboul said.

“This enforcement action has neutralized a major manufacturing facility believed to have been responsible for the production and distribution of unprecedented qualities of fentanyl and methamphetamine into Canada and abroad.”

He said his agency has been working with its “five eyes” partners, including the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand. As part of the investigation, 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 Falklands laboratory to a nearby property in Enderby, where police recently found a huge stockpile of precursor chemicals, as well as a truck owned by Independent Soldiers gangster Donnie Lyons, who was shot dead in June.

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Teboul praised the dedication of the investigative teams who have worked on the case for months so far and “have delivered a decisive blow to transnational organized crime.”

Now “these 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 should take synthetic drug cases more seriously and hand out harsher sentences to those who produce fentanyl and methamphetamine.

“I think it’s time for our justice system to recognize the reality of the danger of these drugs,” he said. “And I think it’s time for the justice system to become increasingly tough on this parasitic behavior, whether it concerns people operating in or outside of Canada.”

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