SURREY — It looked like something you might find under a tent at an exotic bazaar, or farmer’s market: A table laden with bags of spices.
But these bags were filled with more than a million dollars’ worth of powdered drugs.
They, and the stacks of cash and guns beside them, represented the harvest of 21-months of police work that also reaped 66 drugs and firearms charges against 13 Lower Mainland residents who were allegedly involved in a Surrey-based drug trafficking operation.
The Surrey RCMP held a press conference Friday to put their haul on display.
“This investigation is in keeping with the Surrey RCMP’s commitment to identifying and conducting enforcement on high-risk locations and individuals in the City of Surrey,†said Insp. Wade Lymburner, flanked on either side by drugs, cash and guns. “Those who traffic in illicit drugs destroy lives, homes and communities and the Surrey RCMP is fully committed to disrupting the criminal activities of individuals involved in illegal drugs.â€
On Lymburner’s right side was 4,474 tablets of counterfeit Oxycodone containing fentanyl, 500 powdered grams and 1,234 tablets of MDMA, 289 grams of fentanyl, 200 grams of heroin, 184 grams of heroin cut with fentanyl, over 65 gram of methamphetamine and 50 grams of cocaine.
On his left, $66,000 in Canadian bills, $540 US, two automatic submachine guns, a .50-calibre handgun, five loaded high-capacity magazines and a box of ammo.
The investigation began in June 2013. Among those charged is Surrey resident Sophon Sek, who is also awaiting trial on a manslaughter charge in connection with the Oct. 19, 2007 “Surrey Six†slayings at Whalley’s Balmoral Tower highrise. He is being held in custody pending an April 9th court appearance.
Sek, fellow Surrey resident Glen Hudson, and Burnaby resident Mona Khodabandehloo together face 36 trafficking charges, four counts of possession of controlled drugs and seven gun-related charges.
Surrey resident Andres Naranjo has been charged with three counts of trafficking, and Port Coquitlam resident Yaeil Jang, five counts of trafficking. Surrey residents Sonny Nguyen and Francis Le have each been charged with one count of trafficking. Burnaby resident Lester Ray, Dylan Herman of Delta and Harjoot Garg of Surrey have each been charged with two counts of trafficking, and Surrey resident Daniel Cluett has been charged with four counts of trafficking and one breach of a court order.
Two youths are charged with seven counts of trafficking and three gun-related charges. Their names cannot be published as the Youth Criminal Justice Act shields their identities.
tzytaruk@thenownewspaper.com