RCMP Federal Investigators take down organized crime group, seize thousands of counterfeit cannabis-laced candy bars

B.C., Federal Policing

2024-10-29 08:30 PDT

File # 2024-54

RCMP Federal Policing investigators in BC have dismantled a criminal operation on Vancouver Island and arrested six suspects who were believed to be involved in the distribution of illicit drugs, unregulated cannabis, and contraband tobacco. Federal Investigators also seized thousands of counterfeit cannabis-laced edibles, including chocolate bars, candies and chips with packaging resembling popular name-brand snacks.

On October 3, 2024, Pacific Region RCMP Federal Policing investigators executed search warrants at two dispensaries and five residences on Vancouver Island. These warrants were associated to an organized crime group allegedly involved in the production and distribution of illicit drugs, and contraband tobacco in Port Alberni and Nanaimo. The dispensaries in question were Green Coast Dispensary in Port Alberni and Coastal Storm Dispensary located in Lantzville. Search warrants were also executed at a suspected stash site in Port Alberni, and a storage and production facility adjacent to Coastal Storm Dispensary. This included two modular trailers where cannabis edibles were being produced, stored, and distributed.

Searches of these locations led to the seizure of the following items:

• Over 120,000 cannabis edibles with packaging resembling popular chocolate bars, potato chips, nacho chips, honey, and other candies;
• Over 3 Kg of psilocybin mushrooms, 1,740 Psilocybin capsules, over 400 psilocybin chocolate/candies and a multitude of other psilocybin products;
• 2.2 pounds of pressed cannabis resin;
• Over 500 pounds of cannabis bud;
• Over 19 pounds of shatter;
• Over 5000 cannabis vape cartridges;
• 5 vehicles;
• 2 ATM machines containing cash;
• Over 164 Master Cases of contraband tobacco (equating to 82,000 packs of cigarettes);
• Over $400,000 in cash;
• A shotgun, and other paraphernalia.

Although the contraband cannabis-laced candy bars and chips resembled professionally manufactured, packaged, and quality-controlled products, they were discovered to have been produced in the highly unsanitary, and heavily contaminated modular trailers. A preliminary assessment of the edibles also indicates that they had been treated with unknown amounts of THC, and likely cross-contaminated with other drugs and substances present in the trailers where they were being produced and packaged. Of equal concern were that counterfeit snacks with packaging claims of possessing medicinal properties, and dangerously high drug potency values, with many of the candy wrap labels claiming to be one-hundred times more potent than regulated cannabis products.

Given the highly contaminated and unsanitary conditions of the illicit drug production facility where these cannabis edibles were being produced, it is possible that the consumption of these products can lead to serious health risks. We urge members of the public to practice extreme caution if they already possess, or come across such products in the future, especially with Halloween being just around the corner.

Source: Chief Superintendent. Stephen Lee, Deputy Regional Commander – RCMP Federal Policing Program – Pacific Region.

The success of this operation would not have been possible without the joint efforts, and assistance by numerous RCMP Federal Policing units, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit-BC (CFSEU-BC), Criminal Intelligence Service BC (CISBC), Nanaimo and Port Alberni RCMP detachments, and other partner agencies.

This investigation is ongoing and numerous drug-offence-related charges are being pursued.

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Email: bcfederalpolicing_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

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