More than three kilograms of drugs with an estimated street value of $350,000, including fentanyl, heroin and cocaine, have been seized after a Saanich police investigation.
Some of the drug concoctions were being mixed with household blenders, said Saanich police Const. Markus Anastasiades.
The presence of fentanyl is a huge concern, said Anastasiades. “It’s found in almost all the drugs nowadays — you just don’t know,” he said. “He’s mixing drugs in a residence, in blenders, and that’s the danger of fentanyl for sure.
“That’s how these deaths are occurring. They’re just mixing them in a blender and it’s already public information how little an amount of fentanyl can kill somebody.”
Saanich officers closed in on a suspect Dec. 12 and arrested him at a traffic stop in the 600-block of Esquimalt Road, assisted by Victoria police and the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Unit. Cash, several cellphones and drugs packaged for sale were found.
That led to a search of a home on Cavallin Court, off Feltham Road, where police found additional drugs, weapons, more than $40,000 in cash and about $25,000 in stolen property. A 2019 Jeep Cherokee was also seized and will be recommended for forfeiture.
The weapons located included batons and two replica firearms.
Anastasiades said the amount of drugs seized is significant. “We’re not talking about a few grams here — we’re talking about three kilograms.”
The home searched is in a residential area in Gordon Head near parks and schools. Police carried out a similar drug bust in the Gordon Head area in the summer.
People who see something in their neighbourhood that arouses their suspicions are encourage to call Saanich police at 250-475-3421 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) if they want to remain anonymous.
Jason Van Winkle, 44, appeared in Victoria provincial court last week, where he was charged with three counts of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.
