
Mounties in B.C. raid 'largest and most sophisticated' drug lab in Canadian history
CTV
Mounties in British Columbia have discovered the 'largest and most sophisticated' drug-production laboratory in Canadian history, federal investigators announced Thursday, describing the facility as a 'super lab' operated by international organized criminals.
Mounties in British Columbia have discovered the "largest and most sophisticated" drug-production laboratory in Canadian history, federal investigators announced Thursday, describing the facility as a "super lab" operated by international organized criminals.
The facility, located east of Kamloops in the rural community of Falkland, was capable of producing several kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl and MDMA per week, David Teboul, an assistant commissioner with the federal RCMP in the Pacific region, announced at a news conference in Surrey.
"The precursor chemicals, in combination with the finished fentanyl products seized at this location, could have amounted to 95 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl, which have been prevented from entering Canadian communities and markets abroad," Teboul said.
Investigators conducted co-ordinated raids on the Falkland property and several associated properties in Surrey on Oct. 25, seizing an estimated 390 kilograms of methamphetamine, 54 kilograms of fentanyl, 35 kilograms of cocaine and 15 kilograms of MDMA, police said.
A .50-calibre machine gun was among the 89 firearms investigators also recovered from the Surrey properties, along with 45 handguns, 21 AR-15-style rifles and submachine guns, "many of which were loaded and ready for use," Teboul said.
Investigators have made one arrest in connection with the drug lab and the properties in Surrey. Gaganpreet Randhawa is "considered the main suspect" and is currently in custody facing multiple drug and weapons charges, according to police.
"As you know, Mexican cartels don't have their headquarters in Canada, so they're at times out of reach of Canadian law enforcement," Teboul said when asked why more suspects had not been taken into custody in the case.