A single tip about a suspicious vehicle led to a major drug bust in the Comox Valley and Oceanside area.
The RCMP said a lengthy investigation resulted in a substantial seizure of controlled drugs and substances, cash and other evidence linked to drug trafficking.
Staff Sgt. Jonah Todd, plainclothes commander of the Comox Valley RCMP, said one phone call can make a difference.
“This suspicious vehicle report led to a significant disruption of criminal activity here in the Comox Valley and undoubtedly saved lives from potential overdoses.”
Investigators seized more than 430 exhibits, including:
- Over $27,000 in cash
- More than 1.6 kg of fentanyl
- Over 2 kg of cocaine
- Over 2.6 kg of methamphetamine
- Over 10 grams of MDMA
- More than eight ounces of ketamine
- Eight standard-sized water bottles containing GHB
- 59 fentanyl patches
- Five cell phones
- Brass knuckles
- Eight working scales
- Notebooks and score sheets
The drugs seized equated to roughly 16,000 doses of fentanyl, 5,000 doses of cocaine, 6,500 doses of methamphetamine, 25 doses of MDMA, 3,780 doses of ketamine and 2,500 doses of GHB, the RCMP said.
Cst. Paul Jones of the Comox Valley RCMP Street Crimes Unit said most of the fentanyl also contained benzodiazepine, an anti-anxiety medication.
“This combination is particularly hazardous, with each drug exacerbating the respiratory depression caused by the other, resulting in an increased risk of death.”
Jones added naloxone would be ineffective if a drug user is experiencing a benzodiazepine overdose.
The investigation remains active as it continues through the judicial process, and the RCMP said it will not release further details at this time.
