B.C. police seize speedboat, cocaine, $11M in contraband cigarettes
Four suspects have been arrested and released from custody amid a months-long investigation into the trafficking of drugs and contraband tobacco in British Columbia.
The province's anti-gang task force, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, executed seven search warrants late last month on properties in Abbotsford, Langley, Surrey and Victoria, the unit said in a news release Tuesday.
Investigators seized a nine vehicles – including a speedboat and a stolen Porsche Cayenne – as well as nearly three dozen guns, a large quantity of ammunition, 35 pallets of contraband cigarettes, a half-kilogram of cocaine and 80 kilograms of cannabis.
The CFSEU estimates the retail value of the cigarettes at approximately $11 million.
Police also confiscated a hydraulic cocaine press, 10 pallets of contraband liquor and body armour, according to the release.
'Largest one-time seizure of contraband cigarettes in B.C.'
The investigation began in August 2023, when investigators obtained information about an alleged drug and contraband tobacco trafficking network.
Police say the investigation quickly broadened into multiple jurisdictions around B.C.'s Lower Mainland and southern Vancouver Island, involving suspects believed to be connected to organized crime.
"Organized crime groups support their criminal enterprise in various ways, including by dealing in illicit commodities," Sgt. Brenda Winpenny said in the release.
"This investigation resulted in the largest one-time seizure of contraband cigarettes in B.C. and speaks to CFSEU-BC’s dedication to fulfilling its mandate to disrupt and support the prosecution of those gang-involved individuals who impact public safety and seek to make profits off of illegal commodities," she added.
Following the announcement of the seizures, B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth provided a statement to CTV News, saying the provincial government continues to target criminals who profit from "the misery of others."
"Our government is taking action to fight gangs, organized crime, and the criminals who are making and trafficking deadly drugs and firearms," Farnworth said. "This significant seizure, which includes drug manufacturing equipment, a speedboat, stolen vehicles, and assault rifles, is a result of multiple police agencies and the Province coordinating their efforts."
B.C. Finance Minister Katrine Conroy echoed his remarks in a statement saying her ministry's tobacco enforcement team "has done exemplary work" alongside the CFSEU.
"The collaboration that led to this seizure – the largest one-time seizure of contraband cigarettes in B.C. – underscores our government’s dedication to taking on gangs and organized crime," Conroy added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ontario patients visiting emergency rooms out of fear being booted by family doctor
Ontario patients are now visiting emergency departments out of fear of being de-rostered from their doctor’s office – a loophole that results in hospitals dealing with non-urgent cases, and disrupts continuity of care paramount to family medicine, according to health-care experts.
Putin wants Ukraine ceasefire on current frontlines, Reuters sources say
Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to halt the war in Ukraine with a negotiated ceasefire that recognizes the current battlefield lines, four Russian sources told Reuters, saying he is prepared to fight on if Kyiv and the West do not respond.
Outdated rules and mounting losses: Can anything be done to fix Canada Post?
Canada Post needs drastic measures to staunch the fiscal bleeding and revamp its operations after a tough decade, experts say.
American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory
American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a nine-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.
What is 'slapped cheek disease' and should parents be concerned?
Despite its rough name, experts say most cases of 'slapped cheek disease' are mild and not a cause for concern.
Trillions of cicadas are emerging in the U.S. Here's what they sound like
Two broods of periodical cicadas are emerging in the United States simultaneously for the first time since 1803. Here is what their deafening buzz sounds like.
Ontario mother denied boarding flight with her family after ticket mistake
A dream vacation for an Ontario family quickly turned to frustration when a mother’s name on a ticket didn’t match the name on her passport, meaning she was left behind while her husband and two children flew to France.
Competition Bureau probes alleged anticompetitive conduct by Loblaws, Sobeys owners
Canada's Competition Bureau has launched investigations into the parent companies of grocery chains Loblaws and Sobeys for alleged anticompetitive conduct, court documents reveal, with Sobeys' owner calling the inquiry 'unlawful.'
A deep-dive into a failed 'Star Wars' hotel is going viral
In 2023, Disney closed a highly-publicized luxury hotel on the Walt Disney World property called 'Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.' Now, a year later, a four-hour-long YouTube deep-dive has resurfaced details about the concept and spread the niche piece of Disney lore to millions of viewers.