After the search of four properties uncovered a large synthetic drug lab, five suspects are now facing multiple charges.
Dennis Halstead, Shawn Cappis, Balbinder Johal, Richard Waugh, and Christopher Alves are all charged with multiple offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA).
The Pacific Region Federal Policing Program’s Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response (CLEAR) team led the investigation and dismantled the lab, while seizing 49 kilograms of MDMA from properties in Maple Ridge and Coquitlam.
Acting officer in charge of the RCMP Pacific Region Federal Policing Jim Leonard said MDMA is often found mixed with other substances and can result in exposure to tainted drugs.
“Access and availability to illicit synthetic drugs is a primary factor in many deaths,” he said. “These drugs come from unsanctioned, uncontrolled, and profit driven facilities.”
The CLEAR team executed the four search warrants on August 17, 2022, in assistance with other RCMP units.
All five people were arrested on scene. Police found the drug lab could produce multiple kilograms of MDMA per cycle.
In addition to 49 kilograms of MDMA, additional precursor chemicals capable of producing a further 80 kilograms of MDMA, a Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUZ, a Tesla 3, and over $51,000 in cash were also seized.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, a street level dose of MDMA contains 50 to 150 milligrams of MDMA.
It’s estimated the 2.5 million doses of MDMA were prevented from entering communities around B.C. with the amount seized, combined with the precursor chemicals capable of producing more.
All five suspects are scheduled to start court appearances on August 14.
