(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS — A Kamloops man will spend the next four years in prison after he was convicted of several drug trafficking and firearm-related offences in October 2018.

Chad Bissat, 30, was sentenced on March 1 for charges stemming from an incident nearly three years ago when he was arrested while riding his bike and carrying a backpack filled with large quantities of various drugs, according to court documents.

Bissat acted as a “mover” which means he was entrusted with large quantities of drugs in his house and was responsible for moving them from place to place to allow them to be sold. He said he was paid both in cash and drugs but mostly drugs, the court document said.

On March 24, 2016, police found 120.8 grams of cocaine, 195.9 grams of methamphetamine and 60 fentanyl pills inside of Bissat’s backpack.

This arrest led to a warrant-based search of Bissat’s home later that evening where police found a total 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, 573.5 fentanyl pills, 58.7 grams of heroin/fentanyl, 4.1 grams of heroin, 605 grams of methamphetamine, 8.2 kilograms of GHB, 71.4 grams MDMA, 8.1 pounds of cannabis, 430.9 grams psilocybin, 73 TFMPP pills, 50 vials anabolic steroids and 3.3 grams of ketamine. He was also found in possession of a loaded prohibited firearm that he kept for his protection.

Crown counsel suggested that in total the drugs had a bulk value of approximately $120,000 and a retail value of about $200,000. In addition, police found cash, cutting agents, scoresheets, a measuring cup, and scales.

Justice Warren B. Milman looked at several aggravating circumstances including the large quantity and variety of drugs found in Bissat's possession.

"Although the relevant events took place relatively early in the life of the fentanyl crisis, I agree with Crown counsel that it is a significantly aggravating factor that the trafficking here involved fentanyl," Milman says in his decision. 

Crown prosecutors admitted they could not prove Bissat knew he had fentanyl in his possession, Milman said ignorance is still not a mitigating factor.

Bissat was born and raised in Kamloops and had no prior criminal record. After high school, he attended Thompson Rivers University where he learned to become a welder. His life began to take a downward spiral when Bissat lost his father as a result of a heart attack.

“He suffered from depression and anxiety and began to self-medicate using alcohol which eventually escalated to ecstasy and cocaine,” the decision says. He turned to drug trafficking to feed his expensive addiction.

Since his arrest, Bissat has weaned himself off of drugs and has been taking counselling. He has also returned to school and work.

Crown counsel had submitted a sentence range of seven years while defence lawyers submitted a sentence of four years. 

Along with four years in prison, Bissat also received a ten-year firearm prohibition.

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