Advertisement

Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam residents face charges in drug trafficking case

photo Patrick Penner

The Tri-Cities were at the centre of a prolific drug trafficking operation, according to Coquitlam RCMP.

Eleven British Columbians – including residents of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam – are now facing a total of 64 charges following an approximately 18-month investigation into known drug traffickers operating in the Tri-Cities, according to Coquitlam RCMP.

The charges, which were approved earlier this month, should send a strong message to those involved in the drug trade, stated Coquitlam RCMP Supt. Darren Carr in a release.

Advertisement

Local news that matters to you

No one covers the Tri-Cities like we do. But we need your help to keep our community journalism sustainable.

“Their business is not welcome in our communities,” Carr stated. “Our officers will continue to work hard at disrupting and dismantling dangerous and illicit drug organizations to maintain public safety.”

The accused range in age from 22 to 54 and each face charges of trafficking and possession of controlled substances. One individual faces a total of 14 charges.

After carrying out seven search warrants on four locations in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Maple Ridge in January 2023, police seized 85 kilograms of illegal drugs including one kilogram of fentanyl.

The raids also yielded 52 kilograms of methamphetamine, three kilograms of cocaine, and smaller amounts of MDMA, ketamine, heroin and psilocybin.

Police previously recommended charges against 13 individuals.

Police dubbed the investigation Project E-Nevermind.

Author

A chiropractor and a folk singer, after having one great kid, decided to push their luck and have one more, a boy they named Jeremy Shepherd.

Shepherd grew up around Blue Mountain Park in Coquitlam, following a basketball around and trying his best to get to the NBA (it didn’t work out, at least not yet).

With no career plans after graduating Porter Elementary school, Jeremy Shepherd pursued higher education at Como Lake Middle School and eventually, Centennial High School.

Approximately 1,000 movies and several beers later in life, Shepherd made a change.

Having done nothing worth writing, he decided to see if he could write something worth reading.

Since graduating journalism school at Langara College, Shepherd has been a reporter, editor and, reluctantly, a content provider for community newspapers around Metro Vancouver for more than 10 years.

He worked with dogged reporters, eloquently indignant curmudgeons and creative photographers, all of whom shared a little of what they knew.

Now, as he goes about the business of raising two fascinating humans alongside a wonderful partner, Shepherd is delighted to report news and tell stories in the Tri-Cities.

He runs, reads, and is intrigued by art, science, smart cities and new ideas. He is pleased to meet you.