Canadian police said Friday they had dismantled the North American country’s “largest and most sophisticated” illicit drug “super-laboratory.” Investigators arrested one Gaganpreet Randhawa, who faces numerous drug and firearms-related charges.

According to an Associated Press article, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said organized crime was running operations related to the mass production and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Canada and abroad.

According to the Canadian government website, Fentanyl is a very powerful opioid painkiller. A few grains can be enough to kill a human being.

Fentanyl is a main ingredient in many toxic illicit drugs that have killed nearly 48,000 people across Canada between January 2016 and March 2024, according to the Canadian government, the AP report adds.

“Meth is a powerful synthetic stimulant. It is illegal, highly addictive and very dangerous for your health,” says the Canadian government website.

Officers had served search warrants at the Falkland drug lab in British Columbia last week and at other locations in Surrey, the AP report added.

What was found in the drug seizure?

According to RCMP officials, 54 kg of fentanyl, “massive” quantities of precursor chemicals, 390 kg of methamphetamine and smaller quantities of cocaine, MDMA and cannabis were seized during the searches.

Investigators said they also found a total of 89 firearms, including handguns, AR-15-style rifles and machine guns, as well as small explosive devices, ammunition, silencers, high-capacity magazines , bulletproof vests and $500,000 Canadian (US$359,000). ) in cash.

Assistant Commissioner David Teboul, head of the RCMP’s federal policing program in British Columbia, told the Canadian website Vancouver Sun that one area of ​​concern was the tonnes of chemicals used to make P2P crystal meth. of the Mexican cartel, never seen in Western Canada until now. .

Teboul said dismantling and cleaning up the Falkland lab has already cost more than $1 million.