Injection and inhalation drug users are served at the Nanaimo overdose prevention site located on Albert at Dunsmuir streets. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

over 30 charges

Police make substantial drug & weapons bust connected to Nanaimo overdose prevention site

Sep 23, 2024 | 3:57 PM

NANAIMO — A police raid at a heavily used harm reduction site in Nanaimo resulted in several criminal charges against two people.

Gerid James Gregory-Allen and Sara Lynn Koshman were arrested in connection with a pair of drug busts locally on Thursday, Sept. 12, including at the overdose prevention site (OPS) located on Albert at Dunsmuir streets, operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Gregory-Allen was subsequently charged with 14 counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and eight weapons offences.

Koshman was charged with six possession for the purpose of trafficking counts and five weapons offences, court records confirmed.

Both Gregory-Allen and Koshman remain in custody and have court appearances scheduled for next week.

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The bust at the OPS is believed to also involve a raid at a secondary location in Nanaimo, however RCMP have yet to release details.

While the volume of drugs seized is believed to be substantial, police also haven’t commented on the specifics.

NanaimoNewsNOW contacted Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) mid-Island branch executive director Jason Harrison, who acknowledged the arrests of two people at the Albert St. OPS on Sept. 12.

“These individuals had no roles with the OPS when arrested,” Harrison said via email. “At no time have the two individuals you named been CMHA Mid-Island Branch employees.”

However, a mid-July social media post on an account belonging to Koshman stated she had a new job working at the Nanaimo OPS.

A follow-up email from NanaimoNewsNOW to Harrison regarding Koshman’s claim of employment at the facility has not been responded to.

Harrison indicated he is away and scheduled to return on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

An Instagram post from Sara Lynn Koshman indicating she began working at the Nanaimo overdose prevention site on July 14. (Instagram)

Koshman technically does not have a prior criminal record, according to online court records.

A peace bond was applied against her earlier this month in response to an incident in Nanaimo in March 2023.

Gregory-Allen has a significant criminal past, primarily involving property crime convictions throughout Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland dating back to 2012.

He has served several jail sentences, court records showed.

Gerid Gregory-Allen pictured in a 2023 social media post (Facebook)

Gregory-Allen was also charged with five drug trafficking counts in relation to a May 2 incident in Nanaimo, court records showed, with charges officially filed on July 26.

The overdose prevention site on Albert St. is located in a building owned and operated by the mid-Island branch of the CMHA on contract from Island Health.

Serving as a supervised environment for injection and inhalation drug users at the site since late in 2022, the seven-day a week service includes drug testing for clients and health related referrals.

Nanaimo City Council has no jurisdiction over the property or the operator, which falls under a ministerial order formalized in 2016 in response to the ongoing toxic drug crisis.

– with files from Jordan Davidson

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ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes