Police have seized $1 million in cash and a large quantity of illicit drugs as part of an investigation of a drug-trafficking ring on the Saanich Peninsula.
RCMP officers worked with Central Saanich and Saanich police to target a drug production and drug-trafficking operation, RCMP spokesman Cpl. Doug Wilson said.
“During the joint investigation, a number of search warrants were executed by police, which resulted in the seizure of large quantities of controlled substances, as well as over $1 million in cash,” Wilson said.
Several people have been arrested.
The Mounties will hold a press conference today where some of the evidence seized will be on display.
On Monday, a bail hearing was held for Meagan Breanna Blake and Christopher Paul Hyland, both 26.
Blake and Hyland are charged with nine counts of unlawfully producing a controlled substance in North Saanich and in Shawnigan Lake between March 7, 2016, and June 29, 2016.
The controlled substances include the date rape drug GHB, anabolic steroids including testosterone, and prescription medication.
Blake and Hyland are also charged with 12 counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking on June 29, 2016. The controlled substances include GHB, anabolic steroids and prescription medication.
The two are also charged with possessing the precursor to GHB for the purpose of producing a controlled substance.
Blake, Hyland and co-accused James Rempel are charged with unlawfully transporting the GHB precursor on June 29, 2016.
Judge Carmen Rogers released Blake and Hyland on $10,000 bail with conditions to abide by a curfew of 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. and have no contact with Rempel, who had already been released from custody.
Blake and Hyland are forbidden from possessing or consuming any drugs and must not possess any drug paraphernalia or production equipment such as pill presses. They are forbidden from possessing any weapons.
Alexander Djafar-Zade is charged with possessing cocaine, GHB and MDMA for the purpose of trafficking. The alleged offences took place on May 25, 2016, in Saanich.
Djafar-Zade is also charged with having $1,144,545 in his possession while knowing that all or part of the proceeds of the property were obtained through crime.
A bail hearing for his release is being held today.
