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Cops seize 73 kilos of cocaine, arrest Surrey man on Highway 1 near Malakwa

Cocaine was seized from vehicle Oct. 8 during roadblock on Highway 1 in Shuswap County
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BC Highway Patrol arrested a Surrey man after seizing 73 kilos of cocaine from a vehicle.

The BC Highway Patrol arrested a 28-year-old Surrey man after seizing 73 kilograms of cocaine from a vehicle during a traffic stop in the Shuswap on Highway 1 near Malakwa.

Cpl. Michael McLaughlin said the Oct. 8 roadblock was manned by the BC Highway Patrol’s Traffic Safety Unit (Police Dog Service), Sicamous RCMP, and the Integrated Impaired Driving Unit.

"The driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, has been released with conditions and is scheduled to appear in court at a later date. The driver will not be identified until charges are approved. The investigation remains ongoing and the vehicle was seized," McLaughlin said. 

Insp. Lori Orstad, in charge of BC Highway Patrol's special traffic operations, said the "preliminary investigation would suggest that this has all the earmarks of organized crime.

"This is a very large amount of drugs so certainly expect to see an impact on the illegal drug trafficking operations within the province," Orstad added.

 



About the Author: Tom Zytaruk

I write unvarnished opinion columns and unbiased news reports for the Surrey Now-Leader.
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