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UPDATE: Drug and firearms charges coming after Metral Drive bust

RCMP made arrests at ‘drug and theft house’ in north Nanaimo
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Three suspects are facing multiple charges and Nanaimo RCMP’s Drug Unit is now searching secondary buildings in an ongoing investigation into a property in the 5300 block of Metral Drive. CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin

Three suspects are facing multiple charges and Nanaimo RCMP’s Drug Unit is now searching secondary buildings in an ongoing investigation into a property in the 5300 block of Metral Drive.

Police took action Thursday morning against the house and its occupants after several months of complaints from area residents.

According to police, the investigation into the home started at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday when officers saw a pickup truck with two men inside and bearing a stolen licence plate leave the property. Police stopped the truck a short time later near Alsop Road and arrested the two suspects.

Police say opioids, cocaine and methamphetamine were found in the truck, as well as a 22-calibre handgun. A number of bikes were also found at the house.

Joel Kelly Millette of Nanaimo, 34, remains in custody facing 13 counts of drug and firearm-related charges. The other occupant of the truck, a 37-year-old man, was arrested on several outstanding warrants and later released.

Two women arrested yesterday at the Metral Drive house, aged 35 and 41, remain in custody and face drug-related charges, say police. Suspected opioids, cocaine and methamphetamine were found in the house.

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