$5M in drugs seized in Chilliwack bust

B.C.'s anti-gang task force says it has made a dent in the drug trade in central and northern B.C. after raiding three Chilliwack addresses and a number ofof storage lockers.

Police say they made their first sizable seizure in November at an apartment in the 45600 block of Brett Avenue in Chilliwack.

TheCombined Forces Special Enforcement Unit said the arrests followed a seven-month long investigation into an alleged Chilliwack based drug distribution network.

Policeseized more than $5 millionin drugs and arrested seven people during raids in November 2014 and February 2015 according to CFSEU-B.C. spokesman Sgt. Lindsey Houghton.

More than $5 million in drugs were seizedincludingcocaine, crystal meth, crystal MDMA, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, fentanyl in pill and powder form and56 kilograms of phenacetin and 54 tubs of MSM used as cocaine buffing agents.

Fentanyl, a painkiller 100 times more potent than morphine, has recently been the subject of a number of warnings in B.C. after causing overdoses and deathwhen mixed with other drugs.

The policeraids also netted weapons, including three semi-automatic rifles, two sub-machine guns equipped with sound suppressors and a number of handguns and ammunition.

Police say the gang distributed the drugs in cities and towns in central and northern B.C.from Williams Laketo Fort St. John.

Map: 45600 block of Brett Avenue, Chilliwack