Nanaimo RCMP $180,000 Drug Seizure

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 Cocaine, Cash & Weapons Seized

A 30 year Nanaimo man with ties to an organized crime group was arrested on Thursday January 10th after Nanaimo RCMP searched his home and car seizing over $21,000 dollars in cash, a large quantity of drugs and a loaded handgun.

On Thursday at approximately 8 PM the suspect was arrested by Nanaimo RCMP plain clothes units while he sat in his car in the parking lot at 4700 Uplands Drive. During the arrest the male was extremely confrontational and assaulted at least one officer. He was eventually controlled and later transported to the Nanaimo RCMP Detachment.

The search of his vehicle located $3000 dollars in Canadian currency. Officers then executed a search of his apartment that same night and found an additional $18,040 cash, almost 1300 grams of cocaine, 300 grams of methamphetamine and 170 grams of heroin with a street value estimated at $181,000 dollars. Along with the currency and drugs a loaded 40 caliber Glock handgun was found in a bedroom.

The male was held in custody and released the next day on a Promise to Appear for court on February 26th, 2013. Police are recommending charges of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking x 3, Possession of a Restricted Firearm, Careless Storage of a Firearm, Resisting arrest and Assault of a Police Officer.

This individual has close ties to the Red Scorpions, an organized crime group that are actively involved in the street level drug trade in Nanaimo and other locations on Vancouver Island. Due to this individuals alleged ties to organized crime, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit(CSFEU) was instrumental in the success of this investigation as their expertise and knowledge of organized crime groups was key in moving this investigation forward, said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP . It should also be noted that this investigation is no where from over and more arrests are expected,said Constable Gary O’Brien with the Nanaimo RCMP.