CHARGES were recently approved against Dennis Halstead, Shawn Cappis, Balbinder Johal, Richard Waugh and Christopher Alves in relation to a complex multijurisdictional investigation conducted by the Pacific Region Federal Policing Program’s Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response (CLEAR) team.
They have been charged with multiple offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), with court appearances scheduled for August 14.
The investigation led to the search of four properties which resulted in the locating and dismantling of a large sophisticated synthetic drug lab, and the seizure of 49 kilograms of MDMA (ecstasy).
In the spring of 2022, the RCMP Pacific Region Federal Policing Program began an investigation that led to the identification of multiple persons and properties believed to be involved in the production and trafficking of MDMA. On August 17, 2022, the CLEAR team, with the assistance of other RCMP units, executed four search warrants on properties located in the cities of Maple Ridge and Coquitlam. As a result, police arrested five people on scene and located a large sophisticated synthetic drug lab that was capable of producing multi-kilograms of MDMA per cycle.
In total, 49 kilograms of MDMA were seized, with additional precursor chemicals capable of potentially producing a further 80 kilograms of MDMA. A Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV, a Tesla 3, and over $51,000 cash were also seized.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) identifies a streel level dose of MDMA as containing between 50 to 150 milligrams of MDMA. When the potential yield of the precursor chemicals is combined with the MDMA seized, this seizure has prevented an estimated 2.5 million doses of MDMA from entering our communities, the RCMP said.
The CLEAR team is a specialized unit that conducts project-based investigations focusing on the production of synthetic drugs, the diversion of chemical precursors and equipment from legitimate industry, and operators of clandestine drug labs. The CLEAR Team also responds to and assists all police agencies along with other provincial / federal government agencies throughout British Columbia and the Yukon Territory with clandestine drug production related investigations.
