$4.5 million drug bust 'one of largest in Surrey's history'

Surrey RCMP announced a majordrug bust, Friday, revealing that earlier in March, a driver was found transporting an estimated $4.5 million in cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine.

30-year-old AbbotsfordresidentPardip Hayerhas been charged with four counts of trafficking in a substance under the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act.

"It was an ongoing investigation, you know, a continued strategy on our part, that we pulled this individual over," saidSurrey RCMP Superintendent Shawn Gill, adding that no weapons were found in the vehicle.

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Gill said the drugs likely came from outside the countryand were headed for communities across B.C. and the rest of Canada.

"We believe the recent shootings, and the conflict that we see the most recent conflict on our streets is the result of the drug trade, and the seizure of this amount of drugs will have an impact on those that are fighting over it," said Gill.

Recent spike in shootings

Surrey RCMP Superintendent Manny Mann said the city has seen a spike in 'shots fired' incidents throughout March, and there have been 28 such incidents so far in 2016.

"This year's incidents do not involve the individuals engaged in last year's drug conflicts. In 2015, we made a significant number of arrests and disrupted the illegal activities of those that were involved," said Mann.

"I can confirm that five of the 28 incidents are associated to a new drug-related conflict between two groups," he said.

Mann said many of the bullets are fired at houses, or parked cars, but five people have been injured this year, and one person was killed in a March 11 attack.

Police have made three arrests in connection to the shootings.

Mann said the shootings do not appear to be random, and they don't posea significant threat to public safety. He said in many cases there are no victims, and no witnesses.