British Columbia RCMP officers busted what they are calling the “largest and most sophisticated” drug-production laboratory in Canadian history.
Federal investigators discovered a “super lab” being operated by an international organized crime network.
The illicit facility was located in Falkland, a rural community east of Kamloops, B.C.
According to Mounties, the facility could produce several kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl and MDMA weekly.
“The precursor chemicals, in combination with the finished fentanyl products seized at this location, could have amounted to 95 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl, which have been prevented from entering Canadian communities and markets abroad,” David Teboul, an assistant commissioner with the federal RCMP in the Pacific region, told reporters in Surrey on Thursday.
Co-ordinated raids were conducted on the Falkland property along with several associated properties located in Surrey B.C. last week, resulting in the seizure of an estimated 390 kilograms of methamphetamine, 54 kilograms of fentanyl, 35 kilograms of cocaine and 15 kilograms of MDMA.
In addition to the narcotics, dozens of weapons were also recovered from the Surrey locations, including 89 firearms.
A .50-calibre machine gun was among the firearms seized, along with 45 handguns, 21 AR-15-style rifles and submachine guns, “many of which were loaded and ready for use,” said Teboul.
One arrest has been made in connection with the drug lab and its Surrey properties, with Gaganpreet Randhawa being “considered the main suspect” in the investigation.
He is currently in custody facing multiple drug and weapons charges and is scheduled to appear in Surrey provincial court on Nov. 14.
“As you know, Mexican cartels don’t have their headquarters in Canada, so they’re at times out of reach of Canadian law enforcement,” said Teboul, responding to a question about why more suspects have yet to be taken into custody.
“I think it’s time for our justice system to catch up to the reality of the danger of these drugs,” he said, adding that they are working with authorities in Mexico on the investigation.
According to police, the super lab is suspected to be connected to another recent seizure that led to over 30 tonnes of methamphetamine precursors recovered earlier this month in Enderby, just 40 kilometres east of Falkland.
While no charges have been laid in that seizure, police said the chemicals were likely destined for one or more super labs busted last week.
“British Columbia is in a particularly unique, if not precarious, position because of our geography,” said Teboul.
B.C.’s extensive coastline of marine ports and its shared international border with three U.S. states – Washington, Idaho and Montana, provide ample opportunities for the importation of chemicals used to create industrial quantities of illicit drugs.
During Thursday’s press conference, Teboul would not specify which organized crime groups authorities believed to be behind the super labs, whether it be Mexican cartels or domestic motorcycle gangs like the Hell’s Angels.
“This is transnational organized crime, and the allegiances within transnational organized criminals are very fluid,” said Teboul.
“This is all about making money. These are individuals that operate by way of convenience and opportunities, and they’re not necessarily associated to one particular group that wears funny patches on their backs or these kinds of things.”
However, the assistant commissioner said the criminals involved in operations of this scale are “highly motivated and highly sophisticated,” adding that they will create alliances among other groups when opportunities and money present themselves.
Investigators said that the Falkland lab alone had enough chemical precursors on site to continue producing drugs for months without having to restock its supplies.
RCMP Insp. Jillian Wellard called the Falkland lab the largest fentanyl and methamphetamine facility ever discovered by Canadian law enforcement.
“This is undoubtedly a major blow to the transnational organized crime groups involved, and a great step towards ensuring the safety of Canadians, and the international community,” said Wellard in a statement on Thursday.
The RCMP estimates it will cost at least half a million to remediate the Falkland lab site, however, that estimate is expected to increase, noted Teboul.