Federal investigators in British Columbia say they have dismantled the “largest and most sophisticated” drug-production lab in Canadian history, dealing what they describe as a “decisive blow” to a major transnational organized crime group working in the province.
The Oct. 25 take-down came after several months of investigative work into a transnational organized crime group involved in the production and distribution of “massive quantities” of fentanyl and methamphetamines, Pacific Region RCMP Assistant Commissioner David Teboul said at an Oct. 31 press conference.
“Federal policing investigators have dismantled the largest, and most sophisticated drug superlab in Canadian history,” Teboul said, noting that officers seized “a record number” of illegal firearms, synthetic drugs, and precursor chemicals for drug production.
The combination of confiscated precursor chemicals and finished fentanyl products could have amounted to 95.5 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl, he said.
“To put things more into context, the 95.5 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl that have been seized, could have taken the lives of every Canadian, at least twice over,” Teboul said. “Not only has this enforcement action potentially saved over 95 million lives, it has also served to deny this transnational organized crime group an estimated $485 million dollars in profit.”
British Columbia RCMP investigators are seen outside a drug “superlab” in Falkland, B.C., on Oct. 25, 2024. RCMP/Handout photo
The drugs were seized after investigators executed search warrants on a drug “superlab” in Falkland, B.C., and associated locations in Surrey. The Falkland facility had the ability to produce several kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and MDMA (also known as ecstasy) per week, Teboul said.
Officers seized approximately “half-a-ton of hard drugs,” including 390 kilograms of methamphetamine, 54 kilograms of fentanyl, 35 kilograms of cocaine, 15 kilograms of MDMA, and large quantities of precursor chemicals.
Police also seized 89 firearms, including dozens of handguns, AR15 rifles, and submachine guns; many of which were loaded and ready to be used. Several explosive devices, a large ammunition cache, firearm silencers, high-capacity magazines, body armour and $500,000 in cash were also confiscated.
One man was arrested in connection with the police raid. Gaganpreet Randhawa, who remains in police custody, is facing two drug-related and four weapons-related charges, police said.
Randhawa is set to appear in Surrey provincial court on Nov. 14.
Police suspect the drug lab is linked to 310 kilograms of methamphetamine seized by RCMP investigators and the Canada Border Services Agency before the drugs could be shipped abroad.
The lab is also thought to be connected with the seizure of more than 30 tonnes of precursor chemicals last month in Enderby, located roughly 40 kilometres west of Falkland, the RCMP said in its Oct. 31 press release.
“Due to the volume of chemicals located, investigators believe the chemicals were destined for one or more large economic based super labs where they could have been utilized in the production of hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine,” police said in an Oct. 3 press release.
No charges have been laid in relation to the seizure as yet, police said, but the investigation is ongoing.
