Major drug superlab in BC linked to global organized crime: RCMP

A massive drug “superlab” linked to international organized crime has been taken out after operations in Surrey and Falkland, the federal RCMP say — halting production of potentially 95 million doses of fentanyl.

Investigators announced their haul at a press conference in Surrey on Thursday afternoon (October 31).

Investigators with the Pacific Region RCMP Federal Policing Program say the arrest follows “significant enforcement action against a transnational organized crime group believed to be involved in the mass production and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Canada and internationally.”

On Oct. 25, police executed search warrants at two locations in Surrey and a “major drug superlab” in Falkland (a Shuswap community northwest of Vernon), said Deputy Commissioner David Teboul, commander of the RCMP’s federal policing program in the region of the Pacific Ocean. during a press conference at the RCMP division headquarters in Surrey.

“After several months of investigating a transnational organized crime group involved in the production and distribution of massive quantities of drugs, federal police investigators have dismantled the largest and most sophisticated drug superlab in Canadian history and recovered a record number of illegal firearms, synthetic weapons seized. drugs and precursor chemicals,” Teboul said.

A large quantity of precursor chemicals were seized, along with 54kg of fentanyl, 390kg of methamphetamine, 35kg of cocaine, 15kg of MDMA and 6kg of cannabis.

The cocaine was found at a location in Surrey; most of the drugs came from the laboratory in Falklands.

“This particular laboratory had the ability to produce for weeks, if not months, without having to refuel with chemicals,” Teboul said.

The investigation resulted in the seizure of a “very significant quantity of unregulated and scheduled precursor chemicals, approximately 5,000 liters of precursor chemicals and more than 10 tons of powdered precursor chemicals… believed to be intended for the production of fentanyl and MDMA,” Teboul said. .

Of particular interest, Teboul said, is the discovery of several tons of unregulated chemicals believed to be used for the production of P2P (phenyl-2-propanone), a planned Class A precursor essential for the production of crystal methamphetamine.

He said this is a method of producing methamphetamine that has not yet been seen in Western Canada.

“The P2P production method has been the main method used by Mexican cartels to produce methamphetamine for years,” Teboul said.

Teboul said the level of sophistication involved in the drug operation is “unprecedented” in Western Canada.

Federal investigators, working with the Canada Border Services Agency, also executed more search warrants and seized 310 kilograms of methamphetamine before it left Canada, the RCMP said.

“The precursor chemical, combined with the finished fentanyl products seized at this location, could have delivered up to 95 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl in Canadian communities and markets abroad,” Teboul said. “To put things into more context, the more than 95 million potentially fatal doses of fentanyl seized could have cost every Canadian’s life at least twice over. Not only that, this enforcement action may have saved more than 95 million lives, it also deprived this transnational organized crime group of an estimated $485 million in profits.”

Teboul said ties within transnational organized crime can be “very fluid.”

“This is all about making money,” he said. “These are individuals who operate for convenience and opportunists, and they are not necessarily associated with any particular group.”

Teboul added that in this case the drugs were not destined for the United States, but abroad. Due to the ongoing investigation, he could not elaborate on a specific country.

At one location in Surrey – aside from the drugs – police seized 89 firearms, including 45 pistols, 21 AR-15 style rifles and submachine guns. They also seized large quantities of ammunition, a firearm silencer, high-capacity magazines, body armor and $500,000 in cash.

“This amount of weapons seized during a single investigation like this, which by the way is still ongoing, is highly unusual in terms of quantity and given the type of firearms,” Teboul said.

Teboul described the operation as a “supermarket for organized crime enterprises.”

“I call it a supermarket because, as you can see, the criminals who operated this were already offering these types of goods,” Teboul said.

Gaganpreet Randhawa was arrested and charged with six drug and firearm offenses, including importing/exporting a controlled substance. He will remain in custody until his next appearance at Surrey Provincial Court on November 14.

Teboul confirmed that Randhawa has a criminal past.

Randhawa is currently the only person arrested so far, but Teboul said the investigation is ongoing and “more is possible.”

Police investigations have shown that there is a link between this criminal operation and the recent one seizure of 30 tonnes of precursor chemicals in Enderby.

The lab’s environmental safety and cleanup costs have already exceeded $1 million and are expected to rise, Teboul said.

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

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke told the Now-leader she was informed of this and added, “I am grateful for the good work of the RCMP in our city.”