Eight arrested in major drug bust in Greater Victoria
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Updated: September 29, 2009 4:20 PM
Victoria police arrested eight suspected drug traffickers after co-ordinated pre-dawn raids on the West Shore and Saanich this morning.
RCMP and Victoria emergency response teams hit five locations starting at 5 a.m. and arrested four men and four women. All eight are in custody.
Police seized a “large” volume of drugs, guns and cash, said Victoria police spokesperson Sgt. Grant Hamilton. The eight people were primarily involved in dealing cocaine on the South Island, he said, and one of the eight is already facing charges for similar offenses.
On the West Shore, police raided a home at the 3600-block of Roberlack Road in Colwood, Tan Envy Tanning Studios in Colwood Corners and a residence at the 2600-block of Rainville Road in Langford. In Saanich, police hit the zero-block of Regina Avenue and the 300-block of Burnside Road West.
Victoria officers worked undercover for three months to gather enough evidence to launch the raid. Almost 100 officers participated from VicPD’s street crime unit and strike force unit, with assistance from the Regional Crime Unit, Saanich Police, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit and the West Shore RCMP.
Hamilton said those arrested are known to police and have a history of violence. “Those involved in this type of criminal activity arm themselves,” he said. “They will go to great lengths to protect their drug activity.”
Police will not release the names of the people arrested until they have been charged. Hamilton said it will take police several days to sort though the seized items. More information is expected to be released Thursday.
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