On Monday, April 7^th, 2003 the Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia (OCABC), Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Vancouver Police Department (VPD) executed 15 search warrants, 1 in Ontario, 14 in B.C., under the provisions of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

In January 2003, OCABC and VPD identified an Asian organized crime group in the Lower Mainland that were involved in the brokering and shipping of large loads of marijuana from BC to Toronto Ontario by rail. Investigation indicated that loads of drugs were being sent weekly to Ontario for distribution, where it is alleged that the drugs were destined for the United States market. No specific American market can be identified at this point, however, Ontario may be able to establish this through further investigation. 

In the early morning hours of Monday, April 7^th, investigators from OCABC, VPD, CP Rail Police and CN Rail Police began executing search warrants at 13 residences in Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby and Surrey, and at one warehouse in Richmond.  All of these locations were operating as brokerage houses and did not house grow ops. At the same time, investigators from several units from the Ontario Provincial Police began executing search warrants in Toronto. The results of the searches are as follows:

Ontario

Drugs seized                           850 lbs of Marijuana - value 2.2 million dollars         

Money seized                          Canadian and American currency- total, one million dollars

Persons charged                      Four individuals charged with possession and possession for the

                                              purpose of trafficking , (marijuana)

British Columbia

Drugs seized                           700 lbs of Marijuana- value 1.7 million dollars

Money seized                          Canadian and American currency, total $330,000.00

Weapons seized                      Three weapons, including two semi-auto pistols and one machine
                                              pistol, all loaded, all from 1 residence in Burnaby.

Persons charged                      Approximately eight individuals will face a series of charges 
                                              including, possession of marijuana and possession for the
                                              purpose of trafficking (marijuana), firearms offences and
                                              possession of proceeds of crime.

This investigation is an excellent example of law enforcement agencies across Canada and within the province of British Columbia working together to eliminate the operations of a criminal organization. The Organized Crime Agency of BC would like to thank their law enforcement partners who assisted throughout this investigation.

The Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia is a joint forces unit which includes police officers from the following; Vancouver Police Dept, RCMP, Delta P D, Victoria PD, New Westminster Police Service, Saanich PD, Port Moody PD, Central Saanich PD, Oak Bay PD, West Vancouver PD, Abbotsford PD.