In the province of British Columbia on Canada’s west coast, police have uncovered three clandestine drug labs, two of which are believed to have been used for fentanyl production. The purpose of the third lab has yet to be determined, authorities said on Thursday.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested two suspects, including an individual described as a “chemist.” However, no charges have been laid so far, as the investigation remains ongoing. According to police, a series of searches was conducted in late March, leading to the discovery of the labs, which were equipped with advanced chemical apparatus similar to those found in academic and scientific institutions.
Stephen Lee, Deputy Commander of the RCMP’s Federal Policing Program, noted that the presence of professional-grade chemical equipment highlights a troubling trend — the increasing scientific sophistication of drug-producing criminal organizations.
Assistant Commissioner David Teboul stated that the drugs manufactured in these labs were not intended for distribution in the United States, though he declined to disclose how that determination was made, citing the active investigation.
The probe began in the summer of 2023, when authorities launched an investigation into the importation of chemical precursors and commercial laboratory equipment used to produce fentanyl, MDMA, and GHB.
