BC Mounties seize 2.5 million doses of fentanyl in drug lab raid

Mounties have seized the equivalent of 2.5 million doses of fentanyl after finding a large-scale secret drug lab in rural British Columbia.

Mission RCMP was called to a property in the Hatzic Valley in the early hours of Oct. 27 after gunshots were heard in the area.

When they arrived at the acreage, on Stave Lake Road, they found evidence that a building on the property was being used as a drug lab.

Police – assisted by Health Canada – then spent several days searching the building.

They found 25 kilograms of pure fentanyl, as well as 3 kilograms of the extreme-strength opiate ready for street distribution.

The fentanyl lab was housed inside a storage building and several shipping containers, police said.

Mission Mounties said the drugs they seized were equivalent to 2.5 street doses of fentanyl.

“The seizure of this fentanyl, and the dismantling of this drug lab to prevent further production, will have a significant impact on the people that profit from the harm this drug causes in our communities,” said Insp. Ted Lewko, officer in charge of Mission RCMP.

“We hope that the residents in the area of the lab will also feel safer knowing that this facility has been shut down.”

Yesterday, the BC Coroners Service said 175 people died in the province in September after overdosing on drugs, bringing the 2023 total up to 1,836.

So far this year, fentanyl has been involved in 83 per cent of all illicit drug deaths in BC.

No charges have yet been laid in the investigation, but police are continuing their investigation.

Anyone with information about the property is asked to call Mission RCMP at 604-826-7161.