Car with wrong licence plates leads to discovery of 'significant' drug trafficking operation in Saanich
Police say a vehicle that was displaying the wrong licence plates led to the discovery of a "significant drug trafficking operation" in Saanich.
West Shore RCMP says officers were in the Malahat area on June 14 when they spotted a vehicle heading northbound on the highway. Police ran the licence plate numbers and found that the plates were registered to a different car.
Mounties followed the car until it stopped at an empty parking lot near Duncan, at which point police went to speak with the driver.
As the officers approached, police say the vehicle "immediately accelerated" and drove towards the officers, ultimately ramming the front of one police vehicle and sideswiping another.
The vehicle drove away from the scene and police did not pursue it in the interest of public safety.
Shawnigan Lake RCMP officers located the car later that day and arrested two people without incident, according to police.
Inside the vehicle, investigators say they found a loaded Beretta handgun that was reported stolen from Nanaimo in August 2020, over three ounces of suspected fentanyl, smaller amounts of suspected cocaine and meth, more than $15,000 in cash, "numerous" collapsible batons and multiple cans of bear spray.
A search warrant was then executed at a residence in Saanich, involving officers from the West Shore RCMP, Saanich police and Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team.
At the property, police say they found signs of a significant drug trafficking operation, including a large quantity of GHB, a sedative sometimes referred to as the date-rape drug, as well as ammunition and a replica handgun.
"This is one example of the ongoing proactive work being done by our officers and the risks they face daily," said West Shore RCMP Supt. Todd Preston.
"Through hard work and teamwork, we have disrupted a substantial drug trafficking operation and removed multiple weapons from the community," he said.
Brandon Seguin, 26, is now facing several recommended charges related to drug trafficking. The charges include possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a prohibited firearm, flight from a peace officer and dangerous operation of a vehicle.
A 38-year-old Saanich woman who was a passenger of the vehicle at the time is also facing recommended charges of possession of a controlled substance. RCMP say both individuals are known to police.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States.