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Date: Tuesday, February 18, 2025
File: 24-41846
Victoria, B.C. – A four-week drug trafficking investigation led by VicPD’s Strike Force unit, resulted in an arrest of a male and seizure of a significant quantity of illicit drugs on February 7.
During the investigation, Strike Force utilized covert tactics to surveil a drug trafficker throughout the region. A search warrant was obtained and executed at the suspect’s residence on Bear Mountain, with assistance from the RCMP Island Emergency Response Team (ERT). One male was arrested inside the residence. Items seized include:
$105,000 in cash
One kilogram of Fentanyl (prepackaged in one-ounce bags)
20 liters of Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
13 ounces of Methamphetamine (prepacked in one-ounce bags)
6 ounces of Cocaine (prepackaged in one-ounce bags)
Many of the drugs seized were prepackaged in one-ounce bags
Strike Force also executed a search warrant on the primary vehicle used by the suspect and with the assistance of an RCMP drug-interdiction canine, X-ray technology utilized by the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT), and trained officers in after-market compartments, located a professionally installed hidden compartment inside. The compartment required a specific sequence of buttons within the vehicle to be pressed in order to open. Seized from the compartment was:
One kilogram of Cocaine
500 grams of Fentanyl
500 grams of Methamphetamine
A loaded Glock handgun and a bag of ammunition
[embed]https://youtube.com/shorts/sfPk5z3xnMA?feature=share[/embed]
“I am proud of the investigative work carried out by Strike Force, with support from the RCMP Emergency Response Team, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, and the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team to remove these deadly substances from our communities,” said Chief Del Manak. “Targeting drug traffickers remains a priority for our department, and this operation is just one of many successful outcomes in our ongoing efforts.”
GVERT employs advanced technologies to support investigations, including this X-ray machine, which aided in locating the hidden compartment
The suspect was released from police custody, pending further investigation. As the investigation is ongoing, additional details are not available at this time.
What Is Strike Force?
Strike Force is a focused investigative unit of VicPD that uses various techniques and operations to support and advance complex investigations and identify and arrest dangerous and prolific offenders. These techniques include covert surveillance, undercover operations and intelligence gathering and analysis.
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