POLICE: Drug trafficking at festivals target of busts

By Contributor

Over the past four months members of the Kootenay Boundary Regional Detachment plain clothes general investigation section led a very resource-intensive investigation, dubbed Project E-PYLORUS, targeting drug trafficking at various events in communities within the West Kootenay/Boundary. 

Specifically, investigators targeted drug dealers at the Nakusp Music Fest, the Kaslo Jazz Fest, Shambhala near Salmo, and the Grand Forks International Baseball Tournament.

 

As a result, 21 individuals are facing various drug trafficking charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

 

The various drug involved in these offences were marijuana, LSD, ketamine, psilocybin mushrooms, MDA powder, extasy pills, cocaine and methamphetamine.

These charges are in addition to the significant charges and seizures that were previously reported to have occurred at Shambhala.

This investigation utilized the regional general investigation section, various uniformed members from throughout Kootenay Boundary Regional Detachment, and other E Division RCMP resources. On Oct. 25, 18 warrants for arrest were issued with six of these being executed on Oct.  26.

 

Two accused have already appeared in court from an arrest and seizure at Shambhala, as well as one accused from Grand Forks already pleading guilty and being sentenced to one year of jail for trafficking methamphetamine.

 

Inspector Nick Romanchuk, the officer in charge of the Kootenay Boundary Regional Detachment, stated, “Drug trafficking poses a very serious threat to the safety of our communities and Kootenay Boundary Regional Detachment remains committed to continuing to target those individuals who choose to conduct these activities to the detriment of our citizens.”

 

Arrests: 

• A 21 year old male from Revelstoke, BC is facing three counts of trafficking a controlled substance
• A 17 year old male from Revelstok,e BC is facing one count of trafficking a controlled substance.
• A 29 year old male from Nakusp, BC is facing one count of trafficking a controlled substance.
• A 45 year old male from Nakusp, BC is facing one count of trafficking a controlled substance.
• A 24 year old male from Kaslo, BC is facing one count of trafficking a controlled substance.
• A 59 year old male from Kasl,o BC is facing one count of trafficking a controlled substance.
• A 27-year-old male from Rionde,l BC is facing one count of trafficking a controlled substance,
• A 26-year-old male from Castlegar, BC is facing one count of trafficking a controlled substance,
• A 30-year-old male from Nelson, BC is facing one count of trafficking a controlled substance,
• A 31-year-old male from Nelson, BC is facing one count of trafficking a controlled substance;
• A 34-year-old female from Grand Forks, BC is facing two counts of trafficking a controlled substance;
• A 25-year-old male from Kamloops, BC is facing two counts of trafficking a controlled substance;
• A 24-year-old male from Abbotsford, BC is facing five counts of trafficking a controlled substance;
• Another 24-year-old male from Abbotsford, BC is facing eight counts of trafficking a controlled substance;
• A 24-year-old male from Whistler, BC is facing one count of trafficking a controlled substance;
• A 46-year-old female from Courtne,y BC is facing one count of trafficking a controlled substance;
• A 30-year-old male from Calgary, Alb is facing two counts of trafficking a controlled substance;
• A 23-year-old male from Calgary, Alb is facing one count of trafficking a controlled substance;
• A 25-year-old male from Jasper, Alb is facing eight counts of trafficking a controlled substance;
• A 23-year-old male from Regina, Sask is facing one count of trafficking a controlled substance.