Mounties who conducted simultaneous search warrants at two residences in Nanaimo and Ladysmith found a large quantity of drugs, weapons and stolen vehicles.
The searches happened Tuesday at a home at 314 Ninth St. and a rural residence in the 13000 block of Cedar Road.
Because investigators suspected there could be weapons and an illegal drug lab at the residences, the Vancouver Island Emergency Response Team and the E Division Clan Lab Team led the entries into the homes.
According to police, no issues were encountered upon entry to the sites and no injuries were reported, but officers found several stolen high-end vehicles at the Cedar Road site along with six adults who were all initially detained. Two of the six detained might face criminal charges.
Police also found weapons, a large quantity of drugs and, allegedly, substances used in the production of GHB, also known as the date rape drug, at the home on Ninth Street. The search of the home was completed Wednesday.
Colin Lamontagne, 40, of Nanaimo, was arrested at the Ninth Street site and taken into custody.
Lamontagne is already facing a charge for manslaughter originating from an incident in which a man was found dead in a Victoria apartment in April 2015.
Lamontagne is being held in custody and has also been charged with aggravated assault, forcible confinement and breach of his recognizance, but police are withholding background information about the latest charges.
“We won’t be releasing information on the nature of where those charges originated from because it could compromise an ongoing investigation,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.
O’Brien said police are also not commenting about the seized weapons for the same reason.
Lamontagne’s next court appearance is set for Wednesday (Dec. 7).