Three people have been arrested and two charged in connection with last month’s seizure in Surrey of thousands of dosages of street-level drugs, including fentanyl, and about $16,000 in cash.
In November 2016, RCMP launched a two-month investigation following a high number of overdose deaths, with the investigation focusing on traffickers in the 135A Street area of north Surrey.
As a result, a search warrant was executed on Jan. 13 in the 10100-block of 127th Street, which resulted in the seizure of approximately 240 doses of suspected heroin/fentanyl, 21 doses of methamphetamine packaged for sale, and approximately $13,000. A 30-year-old Surrey man was arrested.
A subsequent search on Jan. 26 in the 9500-block of 127th Street resulted in the seizure of 3,600 doses of suspected heroin/fentanyl, 500 doses of methamphetamine, and 410 doses of crack cocaine, all packaged for street-level sale. Also seized was $3,000.
Charged with trafficking offences are Lee Roy Braaten, 54, and Wanda Stopa, 47, both of Surrey.
“Surrey has had the second highest number of overdose deaths in B.C., second only to Vancouver,” said Surrey RCMP Insp. Shawna Baher.
“The 135A Street area and the people that frequent that area have been significantly impacted by the ongoing fentanyl health crisis. This investigation will have a significant impact on illegal drug activity in this area and has no doubt saved lives.”
