Drugs and drug paraphernalia RCMP say were seized from the home of Erwin Dagle of Kamloops are pictured in this handout photo.
Image Credit: RCMP HANDOUT
December 11, 2017 - 12:20 PM
KAMLOOPS - Charges have been laid against associates of the Red Scorpions gang after months of police investigation targeting drug trafficking by associates of the group in Kamloops.
Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jodi Shelkie says in a news release on Nov. 30 charges were laid, resulting from multiple operations by the detachment's targeted enforcement unit between October 2016 and March 2017.
On Dec. 1, 2016, a vehicle was stopped north of Merritt. Shelkie says a large amount of Canadian cash was seized after a search of the vehicle. The driver, Gregory Wilson of Coquitlam, and Brandon Chappell of Kamloops were charged with possession of property obtained by a crime over $5,000.
On Jan. 14, 2017, Kamloops RCMP executed search warrants at the Heavy Metal Gym and the Chappell's home. Shelkie says police found another large amount of cash, drugs and a firearm at Chappell's home. He was charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Cash seized by RCMP during a vehicle stop on Dec. 1, 2016.
Image Credit: RCMP HANDOUT
Heavy Metal Gym was owned by Konaam Shirzad, a co-founder of the Red Scorpions who was gunned down outside his West End Kamloops home in September.
Shelkie says police executed more search warrants on March 30, one at Chappell's home and one at the home of Erwin Dagle of Kamloops. Police found a large amount of cash in Chappell's home, resulting in another charge of possession of property obtained by crime.
In Dagle's home, Shelkie says, police found and seized a large amount of cash, bulk supplies of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and carfentanil which resulted in five counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by a crime.
Shelkie says during the course of the investigation, Kamloops RCMP seized $191,445 in cash, 1.3 kilograms of cocaine, 56 grams of heroin, 448 grams of fentanyl, 717 grams of methamphetamine, 231 grams of MDMA and one firearm.
She adds that more operations were executed by the targeted enforcement unit after the incidents, including the arrest of street level traffickers, and the execution of a search warrant into a Kamloops hotel room, during which additional bulk supplies of drugs were seized.
Those matters have been forwarded to Crown counsel for charge approval against several other people associated to the gang, Shelkie says.
Gang paraphernalia seized by Kamloops RCMP.
Image Credit: RCMP HANDOUT
Cash RCMP say was seized from Brandon Chappell's home in Kamloops.
Image Credit: RCMP HANDOUT
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News from © iNFOnews, 2017