Six people who allegedly trafficked fentanyl and other drugs in B.C. and Alberta are now facing a total of 42 charges.
The six were arrested after a seven-month investigation by Vancouver Police into the sale and distribution of the deadly opiate by a “sophisticated drug distribution network.”
During the probe, dubbed Project Trooper, police seized almost 24,000 fentanyl pills, 19 kilograms of cocaine, 12.5 kilos of methamphetamine and 228 kilos of a cutting agent called phenacetin.
They also seized 12 firearms, $575,000 cash and eight vehicles, four of which had secret compartments.
Thirty-six year old Jason Heyman is facing the most charges – seven of possession for the purpose of trafficking and five for gun possession.
Dennis Halstead, 36, is facing four for trafficking and one of possession of a restricted firearm.
Cameron Mak, 40, and Charleen Flintroy, 47, are each charged with seven trafficking counts and one for possession of a restricted firearm.
Tara Marshall and Pedro Keymatch, both 32, are facing possession for the purpose of trafficking charges only.
Court records indicate Halstead, Heyman, Mak, Flintroy and Marshall have all been released on their own recognizance until their next appearances at Vancouver Provincial Court. There is no information listed for Keymatch.
The director of civil forfeiture has filed a suit against Halstead, alleging almost $4 million in assets was amassed from drug trafficking. The assets – including a Coquitlam house, net proceeds from the sale of a Downtown Eastside hotel and a $120,000 Porsche Cayenne – have been frozen by the B.C. Supreme Court pending a trial.
The VPD first released details of the investigation last April.
Supt. Mike Porteous said the VPD learned in September 2014 that a criminal organization was supplying Downtown Eastside residents with cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl.
“The crime group was selling drugs to marginalized members of the community. The criminals were also believed to be shipping large quantities of the drugs to Vancouver Island and into Alberta,” he said at the time.
On March 11, the VPD and partner agencies executed 11 search warrants in Vancouver, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Surrey and Maple Ridge.
Filed under: The Real Scoop Tagged: Breaking News, Cameron Mak, Charleen Flintroy, Dennis Halstead, Drug Crimes, Jason Heyman, Kim Bolan, Mike Porteous, Pedro Keymatch, Real Scoop, Tara Marshall, Vancouver Police, Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver Sun Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
