RCMP in B.C. say they have taken down “the largest, most sophisticated drug superlab in Canada.”
The police force says federal investigators focused on combating illicit drug production in Canada busted the lab, which is believed to be run by a “transnational organized crime group… involved in the mass-production, and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine across Canada, and internationally.”
According to police, the amount of fentanyl and other materials seized would have amounted to more than 95,500,000 potentially lethal doses and worth an estimated $485 million in profit.
The “superlab” was located in the community of Falkland, B.C., an unincorporated community about 50 kilometetres east of Kamloops.
“It really does look like Breaking Bad,” said RCMP insepector Jillian Wellard in an interview with CBC News, referring to the popular television show about a drug manufacturing kingpin. “This endeavour is a two-storey building with ten rooms. It’s unbelievable.”
“To put into context, [the fentanyl seized] could have taken the life of every Canadian citizen twice over.”
An aerial view of the site in Falkland, B.C. which police say was home to largest and most sophisticated illicit drug production operation ever seen in Canada. (RCMP)
Details of the seizure were shared Thursday afternoon in Surrey, B.C,. by Assistant Commissioner David Teboul, commander of the RCMP federal policing program in B.C. and Yukon.
In a written statement, Teboul called the seizure “unprecedented” in Canadian policing.
The Mounties say the bust is a “decisive blow” to those who organized it and that in addition to the facility in Falkland, several locations in Surrey were also searched.
LISTEN | RCMP describe the drug bust:
The announcement follows a report on Wednesday from RCMP announcing charges had been approved against 19 people involved in the illicit drug trade in northeast B.C.
It also comes following a CBC investigation showing that Canada was being used by criminal organizations to ship drugs into Australia, where they can fetch a higher street price.
Wellard said while she wasn’t able to disclose where the drugs were headed, she could say they were not meant for the United States.
“We have seen a concerning trend in terms of exportation in Canada,” she said.
Aside from the drugs, which included 54 kilograms of fentanyl, 390 kilograms of methamphetamine and 35 kilograms of cocaine, police also seized 89 firearms, several small explosives, body armour and $500,000 in cash.
Police say the site was being used to prepare multiple drugs for export including fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine. (RCMP)
Police say several shipments of drugs destined for international export were also stopped, and one person has been arrested and charged and is currently in custody.
They say the lab has also been linked to another recent bust, where over 30,000 kilograms of chemicals destined for drug production were seized in the community of Enderby, B.C., in the North Okanagan.
Wellard said the cost of cleaning up the lab would be more than half a million dollars, describing “drums and drums” of chemicals that had been left behind.
“It’s a huge lift,” she said.