A large quantity of suspected illicit drugs and a concealed firearm were seized in Nanaimo after two suspects allegedly fled from police during a targeted gang enforcement operation earlier this month.
According to the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC), officers with the Uniform Gang Enforcement Team (UGET) were deployed to Nanaimo from June 5th to 7th as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt gang activity and drug trafficking on Vancouver Island.
On the afternoon of June 5th, officers were conducting proactive patrols near Strickland Avenue and Robin Street, an area known to police for drug trafficking activity, when they observed what they believed to be a dial-a-dope operation.
Police attempted to stop a suspect vehicle, however the driver allegedly failed to stop and fled the area.
UGET officers did not pursue the vehicle but instead maintained observations and coordinated with partner agencies.
RCMP Air Services, which was already operating in the area, took over aerial surveillance while officers from Nanaimo RCMP and Nanaimo Police Dog Services worked to locate the suspects.
Police Dog Services officers eventually located and arrested a female passenger, while the male driver was arrested a short distance away and is being investigated for flight from a peace officer.
During the investigation, officers recovered a bag believed to have been discarded by the suspects.
Inside, police found more than one kilogram of suspected illicit drugs, including suspected cocaine, fentanyl, crystal methamphetamine and illicit pills.
Officers also seized what they described as a concealed .22-calibre pen gun hidden inside the bag.
The male driver was later released on an undertaking in relation to the flight from a peace officer investigation.
Police say additional charges related to drug trafficking and firearms offences are anticipated as the investigation remains ongoing.
“The Uniform Gang Enforcement Team brings specialized expertise and intelligence-led approaches that support frontline policing efforts here in Nanaimo, while RCMP Air Services provides a critical layer of support that allows officers to monitor situations safely and effectively,” said Nanaimo RCMP Inspector Donovan Tait.
“By combining these resources and working closely with local units, we’re able to respond to complex, localized concerns like drug trafficking in a coordinated way that prioritizes public safety and community well-being.”
CFSEU-BC says the deployment was aimed at supporting local police agencies through intelligence-led investigations and targeted enforcement efforts.
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