FOLLOWING several months of investigation, a Coquitlam man is in custody after being arrested by Metro Vancouver Transit Police. He is facing charges related to numerous firearm- and drug-related offences.
Matthew Steven Arana, 24, of Coquitlam, who was well known to the Metro Vancouver Transit police, was being investigated by the MVTP Crime Suppression Team for allegedly trafficking fentanyl near the transit system. On May 29, Arana was arrested and held for court.
During the course of the investigation, and with the assistance of Vancouver Police resources, Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team, and Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit, the MVTP Crime Suppression Team ended up seizing:
- 373 grams of fentanyl
- 28 grams of ketamine
- 248 grams of cocaine
- A .22 caliber firearm
Arana currently remains in custody until his next court appearance, and is facing a total of 15 offences, including weapons trafficking, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking, and trafficking in scheduled substance.
“We hope that the outcome of this investigation sends a clear message to anyone who wants to set up a criminal enterprise on or around the transit system that Transit Police will make it extremely difficult. We work tirelessly to ensure that when we make an arrest, we have an abundance of evidence so that those who threaten the safety of the travelling public are held accountable to the full extent possible,” said Sgt. Dustin Szakacs.
