An ongoing investigation into Prince George drug rings has led to more arrests and the dismantling of two major operations within city limits.
According to RCMP, a total of seven people were arrested on Thursday (Dec. 3) from four separate search warrants under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, all at different locations, which led to significant seizures of illegal drugs, cash and vehicles.
A release today (Dec. 8) explains all of the suspects involved have ties to organized crime and no charges have been laid as more investigations continue.
“These enforcement actions will be a significant disruption to the drug trafficking trade and organized crime in Prince George,” says Sgt. Chad Chamberlain of the Prince George Street Crew in the statement.
Cannabis Advent Calendars
During one seizure, advent calendars were found in an underground bunker police discovered in steel shipping containers.
Crews found an active psilocybin production grow-op, a cannabis oil extraction lab with commercial equipment and a packaging area for the sale of the cannabis, shatter and edibles.
The calendars were filled with illicit cannabis products ready for distribution.
Various drugs for sale
On another occasion, Mounties found suspected cocaine that had been packaged for resale, along with suspected steroids and prescription pills like Adderol, Cialis and Xaanax.
A third warrant was executed at what appeared to be set up like a pharmacy, which had products like suspected cocaine, prescription medications and illicit cannabis products.
A processing station was also designed for cocaine cutting and re-packaging of cocaine for future sales.
Total findings
Police are estimating an annual revenue of hundreds of thousands of dollars would have been made through the cannabis extraction lab, the production and sale of psilocybin.
By the end of Dec. 3, Prince George RCMP Street Crew Unit found roughly 1.5 kg of cocaine, an abundance of prescription pills, hundreds of doses of steroids and thousands of doses of GHB, in addition to $35,600 in cash, a Dodge Ram 1500 and a 2020 GMC Canyon Denali.
The locations for the search warrants were as follows:
- 200-block Harper Street
- 7000-block Kingsley Crescent
- Iona Street near Old Summit Lake Road
- Marlin Drive in Salmon Valley
A fifth search warrant was issued on Dec. 3 for a residence on 1600-block 11 Avenue, where police seized 38 grams of fentanyl, 23 grams of crack cocaine and a small amount of meth at the residence, along with a stolen loaded Winchester 94 rifle and a sawed-off 22 caliber rifle.
It's unknown if this investigation is related to the four announced today.
RCMP Street Crew members also had help from the detachment’s Emergency Response Team (ERT), Police Dog Services and Air Services.
