Police seize pot, arrest suspect
Police arrested a 46-year-old man and seized nearly 23 kilograms of marijuana worth about $120,000.
The arrest and seizure happened Friday at about 12:30 p.m. at Departure Bay ferry terminal.
The investigation started by Nanaimo RCMP’s General Investigation Section that led to the arrest lasted several months and focused on the movement of money and marijuana between central Vancouver Island and the Yukon.
The suspect was surveilled by plain clothes members who moved in and made the arrest when it looked like he was preparing to leave the Island. He was arrested in his car at the ferry terminal.
Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said the seizure will cause a significant disruption in the flow of marijuana between Nanaimo and the Yukon.
More arrests are possible as the investigation continues.
“He’s not from Nanaimo,” O’Brien said. “He’s from the Yukon area, but we’re not going to say exactly where, but he obviously has ties to the Nanaimo area through his alleged criminal activity.”
The suspect has no previous criminal convictions and was released later that day on a promise to appear in Nanaimo Provincial Court May 14.
Police have recommended a charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
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