TWO men have been found guilty after Metro Vancouver Transit Police made arrests in relation to the possession and distribution of dangerous illegal substances and contraband products in Vancouver in 2023.
On November 9, 2023, several men caught the attention of Transit Police officers outside of Main Street-Science World Station, and were arrested when officers saw what they believed to be hand to hand drug transactions.
The officers subsequently found the following in their possession:
• Approximately 6 kilograms of marijuana and various marijuana products
• 72 packs of contraband cigarettes
• 1.13 grams of fentanyl
• 1.36 grams of hydromorphone
• 125.01 grams of psilocybin
• 364.31 grams of hashish
• Almost $2,000
Among the marijuana products seized by Transit Police were edibles that were packaged to look like popular candy brands that could, at first glance, be mistaken as harmless.
Recently, 44-year-old Stephen McLellan of Maple Ridge plead guilty to possession for the purpose of selling cannabis under the Cannabis Act. Meanwhile, 34-year-old Jayson Hoang of Abbotsford was found guilty of possession for the purpose of selling cannabis under the Cannabis Act.
“Transit Police work hard to combat criminal activity taking place on and around the transit system. This includes the selling of illegal and contraband items. Aside from potentially lethal fentanyl, the unregulated cannabis that mimics candy is particularly dangerous and can cause serious harm to an unknowing consumer,” said Sgt. Dustin Szakacs.
