Charges have been approved against six accused after a lengthy fentanyl investigation that concluded last year with the recommendation of multiple charges and the seizure of drugs, cash, guns and property.
On April 1st, 2015, the Vancouver Police Department held a news conference and displayed several items seized from a project that targeted a sophisticated drug distribution network.
Project Trooper was a seven-month investigation by the VPD into a group that distributed drugs, including fentanyl, to people in Vancouver, on Vancouver Island, and into Alberta. During the project police seized:
- $575,000.00 cash
- 19 kilos of cocaine
- 1.7 kilos of heroin
- 12.5 kilos of methamphetamine
- 23,763 fentanyl pills
- 228 kilos of phenacetin
- six handguns
- two shotguns
- four rifles
- eight vehicles (four with hidden compartments)
- 3.78 million in property including a Downtown Eastside apartment building, a New Westminster townhouse and a Coquitlam home
The Public Prosecution Service of Canada approved the following charges:
36-year-old Dennis Halstead
- four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking
- one count of possession of unloaded restricted or prohibited weapon with readily
- accessible ammunition without a license
36-year-old Jason Heyman
- seven counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking
- one count of possession of unloaded restricted or prohibited weapon with readily accessible ammunition without a license
- two counts of possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm without a license
- two counts of possession of a firearm that was obtained by crime
40-year-old Cameron Mak
- seven counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking
- one count of possession of unloaded restricted or prohibited weapon with readily
- accessible ammunition without a license
47-year-old Charleen Flintroy
- seven counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking
- one count of possession of unloaded restricted or prohibited weapon with readily accessible ammunition without a license
32-year-old Tara Marshall
- seven counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking
32-year-old Pedro Keymatch
- two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking
KNOW YOUR SOURCE? BE DRUG SMART
On March 2nd, 2015, police and health authorities launched the Know Your Source campaign. Be Drug Smart, an awareness promotion designed to educate the public about the dangers of fentanyl, and encourage those who choose to use, to do so with caution.
For more information about the dangers of fentanyl, please visit knowyoursource.ca.
