Weapons, drugs, cash and more were seized by Mounties over a multi-month operation in Nanaimo, putting a considerable dent in the local drug trafficking trade. (Image Credit: Nanaimo RCMP)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

major trafficking operations

Over 130 arrested, 51 charged, drugs & weapons seized after months-long operation in Nanaimo

Mar 12, 2026 | 2:43 PM

NANAIMO — Provincial funding and diligent work from local Mounties removed a large cache of drugs and weapons from local streets.

Officers from the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU), as well as Uniformed Gang Enforcement Team members and the Nanaimo detachment, worked over the course of five months to conduct several operations, seizing hundreds of grams of hard drugs and illegal weapons.

Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW a major late February bust on Doumount Rd. featured drugs, body armour and cash.

“There were 17 grams of suspect crystal methamphetamine, 28 grams of suspect fentanyl, almost 19 grams of suspected cocaine, GHB, three firearms, body armour, and over $33,000 in cash. In that one, we have a 48-year-old resident that’s looking at a number of charges.”

The suspect was later released pending charge approval by Crown Counsel.

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Overall, 139 people were arrested during the multi-month operation.

Police say as a result of further investigation, 51 individuals are facing a total of 84 different criminal offences.

Charges are yet to be approved by Crown, meaning those involved cannot be named publicly.

“There was a multitude of drugs such as fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, oxycontin, oxy tablets, weapons, body armour, cash, batons, tazers, you name it,” O’Brien noted of the operation. “Anything that could be used to carry out crime.”

As part of the operation, CFSEU officers conducted an enforcement blitz in the region in mid-November, making several arrests as drugs, weapons and cash were seized.

A 2022 Cadillac CTS was also seized “as suspected proceeds of crime linked to individuals associated with the Brothers Keepers,” an RCMP release stated.

O’Brien said multiple provincial and local resources, including front-line officers, Police Dog Services and other specialized units, was only made possible as a result of increased funding through the provincial Safer Communities – Community Safety and Intervention Teams program.

“When the funding is there, and you have members who are motivated and have the resources and expertise, what they can do for a community. These are people who were causing significant harm in our community. People were dying from drugs these people are selling. People are being injured by the weapons they had, and now these are all off the streets.”

O’Brien added their response was strong in every instance, given the nature of the items consistently being seized.

“The weapons alone: three firearms, body armour, knives, tasers, batons, brass knuckles, pellet guns, machetes, and bear spray. One was a loaded marine flare gun, and there are six replica handguns, which are often used by criminals to carry out offences, because it’s very difficult in the heat of the moment to ascertain between a replica firearm and a real firearm.”

In addition to the arrests and charges forwarded to Crown, 23 violation tickets were written by local officers connected to the investigation.

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