BC’s massive drug superlab linked to global organized crime: the RCMP

The federal RCMP says a massive drug “super lab” linked to international organized crime has been closed following operations in Surrey and the Falkland Islands, halting production of a potential 95 million doses of fentanyl.

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

Investigators with the RCMP Pacific Federal Police Program say the arrest is the result of “significant enforcement activity conducted against a transnational organized crime group that is believed to be involved in the mass production and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Canada and abroad.”

On October 25, police executed search warrants at two locations in Surrey and at a “huge drug super lab” in Falkland (the Shuswap community northwest of Vernon), said Assistant Commissioner David Teboul, commander of the RCMP’s federal police program in the Pacific region. during a news conference at the Surrey RCMP detachment headquarters.

“After several months of investigating an international organized crime group involved in the production and distribution of vast quantities of drugs, federal police investigators have dismantled the largest and most sophisticated drug superlaboratory in Canadian history and seized a record number of illegal firearms, synthetic drugs and chemical precursors,” Teboul said.

A large quantity of chemical precursors was seized, as well as 54 kg of fentanyl, 390 kg of methamphetamine, 35 kg of cocaine, 15 kg of MDMA and 6 kg of cannabis.

Cocaine was found at a location in Surrey; most of the drugs came from a laboratory in the Falkland Islands.

“This particular lab was able to produce without having to refuel chemicals for weeks, if not months,” Teboul said.

The investigation led to the seizure of “a very significant quantity of unregulated and scheduled chemical precursors, approximately 5,000 liters of chemical precursors and over 10 tons of powdered chemical precursors… likely intended for the production of fentanyl and MDMA,” Teboul said. .

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

He said this is a method of producing methamphetamine that has never been seen before 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 of 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, according to the RCMP.

“The precursor chemical combined with the finished fentanyl products seized at this location could have amounted to 95 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl in Canadian communities and overseas markets,” Teboul said. “To put the matter into broader context, over 95 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl seized could have taken the life of every Canadian at least twice. “Moreover, these enforcement actions potentially saved over 95 million lives, but also deprived this transnational organized crime group of an estimated $485 million in profits.”

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

“It’s all about making money,” he said. “These are people who are acting out of convenience and opportunism and are not necessarily affiliated with one 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 provide a specific country.

In one location in Surrey – a drug-free area – police seized 89 firearms, including 45 pistols, 21 AR-15 rifles and submachine guns. They also seized large amounts of ammunition, a firearm silencer, high-capacity magazines, bulletproof vests and $500,000 in cash.

“This amount of weapons seized in a single investigation such as this, which, by the way, is still ongoing, is very unusual in terms of quantity and the type of firearm,” Teboul said.

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

“I call it a supermarket because, as you can see, the criminals operating it were offering all kinds of goods,” Teboul said.

Gaganpreet Randhawa was arrested and charged with six drug and firearms offenses, including import/export of a controlled substance. He will remain in custody until his next hearing on November 14 in Surrey Provincial Court.

Teboul confirmed that Randhawa does indeed have a criminal record.

Randhawa is currently the only person who has been arrested so far, but Teboul said the investigation is ongoing and “there may be more.”

A police investigation revealed a link between this criminal activity and the recent one acquisition of 30 tons of chemical precursors in Enderby.

Environmental safety and cleanup costs for the lab have already exceeded $1 million and are expected to rise, Teboul said.

“These expenses have a direct impact on the resources of our operating budget and ultimately take away from the funding that Canadians provide to the police to do their job,” he added.

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