Largest drug ‘superlab’ in Canada’s history busted and record amounts of fentanyl, chemicals and weapons seized

Canadian police dismantled what they say is the country’s largest, most sophisticated illegal drug “superlab” on Thursday, saying they had seized “a record number of illegal firearms, synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals.”

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they believe organized crime led the operation that involved mass production and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine across Canada and internationally.

Officers served search warrants last week at the drug lab in Falkland, British Columbia, and associated locations in Surrey, in Metro Vancouver. The RCMP several photos released of the operation in which agents in protective suits removed items from the ‘superlab’.

Police said they seized 54 kilos of fentanyl, “huge” quantities precursor chemicals390 kilograms of methamphetamine, and smaller amounts of cocaine, MDMA and cannabis.

They also found a total of 89 firearms, including pistols, AR-15-style rifles and submachine guns — “many of which were loaded and ready to use.” They also found small explosives, ammunition, silencers, high-capacity magazines, body armor and $500,000 Canadian ($359,000) in cash.

Investigators said a suspect, Gaganpreet Randhawa, has been arrested and is in custody facing numerous drug and firearms-related charges.

“This is undoubtedly a major blow to the transnational organized crime groups involved, and a major step toward ensuring the safety of Canadians and the international community,” said Jillian Wellard, officer-in-charge of the Federal Policing Pacific Region.

Fentanyl is a key ingredient in many of the toxic illegal drugs that the Canadian government says killed nearly 48,000 people across Canada between January 2016 and March 2024.

The bust comes about two weeks later That’s what the Canadian police said had made arrests linked to another transnational organized crime group. The RCMP said it has been working with the FBI for more than a year to target a Mexican cartel-linked criminal network that moved large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from Central and South America through the United States to Canada and beyond transported.

Canadian authorities said the network also ordered murders across North America and laundered significant amounts of money. That network’s alleged leader, Canadian Ryan Wedding, is still at large and wanted by the United States and Canada, authorities said.