Three drug labs in British Columbia’s Pacific coast province of Surrey have been shut down by police, with two labs suspected of producing fentanyl and the third lab’s purpose remaining unknown. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested two individuals, one of whom is described as a “chemist,” but no charges have been filed yet as the investigation continues. Equipped with sophisticated equipment typically found in academic and professional research facilities, the labs were discovered during a series of search warrants executed in late March. Chief Supt. Stephen Lee expressed concern over the increasing scientific complexity of drug labs belonging to transnational organized crime groups. Although the drugs manufactured in the labs were not intended for the United States, Assistant Commissioner David Teboul did not disclose how this determination was made due to the ongoing nature of the investigation. The Mounties initiated their investigation into the importation of precursor chemicals and commercial laboratory equipment used in drug production, such as fentanyl, MDMA, and GHB, in the summer of 2023.
