Marihuana Production/Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Investigation
North Okanagan Detachment File: 2008-2993
Today (Wednesday May 14th) members from the Vernon, Armstrong, Enderby and Falkland Detachments, South East District General Investigation Section, South East District Drug Section, South East District Criminal Intelligence Section, Vernon Police Dog Service, Kamloops/Vernon and Kelowna Forensic Identification Section and Kelowna Air Section executed four (4) search warrants at properties near the communities of Enderby, Armstrong and Falkland. These searches have resulted in the arrest of 5 persons and the seizure of in excess of 3500 marihuana plants and associated marihuana production equipment.
Project EPELERINE began in mid April, 2008 with a combined investigative team consisting of members from Vernon Detachment, South East District General Investigation Section, South East District Drug Section and South East District Criminal Intelligence Section. This project focused specifically on one criminal organization operating in the North Okanagan that was producing and distributing marihuana.
This investigation has resulted now in the execution of eight (8) search warrants. Four (4) of those search warrants were executed on Thursday May 8th, 2008 and focused on properties in the City of Vernon located on Pottery Road and Middleton Way and in the Municipality of Coldstream located on Uplands Drive and Rockland Drive. All of these properties have also been posted under Vernon and or Coldstream Controlled Substance Remediation Bylaws.
The search warrants executed today Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 were at properties located on Highway 97 near Falkland, Hullcar Road and Keevil Road near Armstrong and on Old Salmon Arm Road near Enderby. The properties located on Hullcar Road and Keevil Road will be posted under the Spallumcheen and Armstrong Controlled Substance Remediation Bylaws. This investigation has resulted in the arrest of seven (7) adult males and one (1) adult female with further arrests expected. It has also resulted in the seizure of in excess of 5500 marihuana plants, an unregistered handgun, a large quantity of Canadian Currency and a Chevrolet Trail Blazer.
The 5 persons arrested on May 14th all remain in custody and are expected to have Justice of the Peace bail hearings later in the day. Their names are also being withheld until they make their first court appearances.
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