The lab was capable of producing “multiple kilograms of suspected fentanyl on a weekly basis,” Cpl. Mike Kalanj said.
Burnaby RCMP has dismantled another fentanyl super lab after a six-month investigation related to the B.C. gang conflict.
In a news release Wednesday, the Mounties said the lab was discovered on a rural property in Langley last month.
The lab was capable of producing “multiple kilograms of suspected fentanyl on a weekly basis,” Cpl. Mike Kalanj said.
Police also seized hundreds of kilograms of chemicals used in the production of fentanyl.
Two people were arrested, though no one has yet been charged.
“Charges against those individuals, and possibly others, will be recommended as the investigation progresses,” Kalanj said.
Officers seized the fentanyl, precursors and two vehicles.
Three other search warrants were executed at residences of the suspects allegedly involved.
Sgt. Randy Mortensen, with Burnaby RCMP’s drug and organized crime section, said the Langley lab “is directly linked to gangs involved in the B.C. gang conflict.”
He did not name the gang or gangs involved, but the long-running conflict has seen dozens of tit-for-tat murders between the United Nations gang and affiliates and rivals in the Wolfpack, Brothers Keepers and other groups.
“A drug super lab like this poses a serious public safety risk to the entire community. It appears the fentanyl being produced at this lab was being widely distributed, likely contributing to overdoses in this province and across the country.”
Postmedia earlier revealed that the Falkland lab was linked to the Wolfpack gang alliance.
So far, just one man has been charged in that investigation. Gaganpreet Randhawa is due to appear in Surrey Provincial Court Thursday.
The Falkland property was manufacturing both fentanyl and methamphetamine for both the domestic market and export, Assistant Commissioner David Teboul said earlier this month.
“The precursor chemical in combination with the finished fentanyl products seized at this location could have amounted to 95 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl, which have been prevented from entering Canadian communities and markets abroad,” he said. “To put things into more context, the over 95 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl that have been seized could have taken the lives of every Canadian at least twice over.“
The RCMP’s specialized clandestine laboratory enforcement and response team took three days to dismantle the Langley lab, with Health Canada officials on standby.
Just this week, two University of the Fraser Valley criminologists released a study that called for provincial standards regarding remediation of properties where drug labs have been discovered.
The study, done in partnership with the B.C. Real Estate Association, said communities around the province have different bylaws regarding the cleanup of drug lab properties and whether those doing the remediation need to be certified.
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