Oceanside RCMP confiscated a loaded pistol, body armour and suspected drugs after a man missed a court date for a driving offence in Parksville earlier this month. (Oceanside RCMP)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

drug and weapons bust

Loaded gun, suspected drugs & body armour seized during Parksville bust

Jan 23, 2025 | 4:08 PM

PARKSVILLE — Oceanside RCMP officers executing a warrant on a man who missed a recent court appearance turned into a significant drug and weapons bust.

A 55-year-old Parksville man missed a Jan. 9 court appearance for driving while prohibited and a warrant issued for his arrest, with an officer tracking down the man down at his home the following day.

While Sgt. Shane Worth told NanaimoNewsNOW the man was arrested without incident, police found a considerable amount of suspected illicit drugs.

“[Officers] believed [the drugs] were in his possession to sell. A search warrant was sought and subsequently granted for a utility trailer associated to him. Officers attended…and searched where they located a .22 caliber pistol which was loaded, ammunition, body armour.”

More suspected drugs were also located at the trailer.

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Charges are yet to be formally laid against the man, preventing police from publicly identifying him.

Worth said their investigation is continuing, including positively identifying the suspected drugs and conducting forensics with the firearm discovered.

“This demonstrates to how dangerous the drug trade can be. This person had a loaded pistol in the utility trailer as well as body armour in close proximity to drugs that we believe were being kept for sale.”

Worth noted the individual was well known to police and past interactions with him were always uneventful.

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