Gang Enforcement Team arrest two in Nanaimo, confiscate ‘significant quantity’ of drugs

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RCMP Air Services were called to track the car, which helped lead to the arrest of the female passenger first, then her male driver a short time later.

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Gang Enforcement Team arrest two in Nanaimo, confiscate 'significant quantity' of drugs

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A subsequent search uncovered a bag believed to be discarded by the suspects.

Inside were more than a kilogram of suspected illicit drugs, including cocaine, fentanyl, crystal meth, and several pills.

“For this person to have this amount of drugs is concerning,” Sgt. Sarbjit Sangha told NanaimoNewsNOW. “Most of the time, they would have about maybe 20 grams of fentanyl or 20 grams of cocaine, and they will keep small amounts on them…because they don’t want to get robbed by a rival who might be running their business in the same area, or when the police pull them over, they don’t want us to catch them with all these drugs.”

Some of the substances seized by officers during the Friday, June 5 arrest. (Image Credit: CFSEU-BC)

A .22 calibre pen gun was also found, concealed inside the bag.

Officers later released the male driver under a promise to appear in court, however he is facing a charge of flight from a peace officer.

The female passenger was also released with no charges laid so far.

Additional charges in connection with the alleged drug trafficking and firearms offences are expected, with police noting their investigation is continuing.

The arrests came amid a three-day operation in the Harbour City targeting gang-related activity and drug trafficking.

“[The unit] gets deployed where the need is in the province,” Sangha said. “We get requests from different municipalities if they see an increase in violence and organized crime in their community. Our members go in and work with the police of jurisdiction to bring that violence down and target those individuals that are posing the highest risk in that community.”

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