Five men are in court today, Aug. 14, in connection with a drug “super lab” found in Coquitlam and Maple Ridge two years ago.
Prosecutors recently approved charges against the suspects, who were arrested at four properties after the RCMP Pacific Region Federal Policing Program’s Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response (CLEAR) team executed search warrants on Aug. 17, 2022.
Police say they discovered and dismantled “a large sophisticated synthetic drug lab” and seized 49 kg of MDMA, also known as ecstasy, as well as additional precursor chemicals capable of producing another 80 kg of MDMA.
The total seizure prevented about 2.5 million doses of MDMA from being sold, said media relations officer Sgt. Shawn MacNeil of the Federal Serious & Organized Crime, in a news release.
A Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV, a Tesla 3 and more than $51,000 cash were also taken by officers.
The five accused who face multiple offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act are (in alphabetical order):
- Christopher Alves
- Shawn Cappis
- Dennis Halstead
- Balbinder Johal
- Richard Waugh
“Access and availability to illicit synthetic drugs is a primary factor in many deaths,” said Insp. Jim Leonard, acting OIC of the RCMP Pacific Region Federal Policing - Border Integrity Program, in the release.
“These drugs come from unsanctioned, uncontrolled and profit driven facilities. MDMA can pose major health risks to its users, possibly leading to overdose and death. MDMA is also often found mixed with other substances which can result in further risk of exposure to tainted drugs. This is why the RCMP Pacific Region Federal Policing Program is unequivocally committed to preventing illicit synthetic drugs, including MDMA, from destroying more lives.”
