A stolen truck ended up leading the Salmon Arm RCMP to seize $420,000 worth of drugs and recover $300,000 in stolen property on Saturday.
On Aug. 29, police received a report of a stolen F-350 with a camper from a residence in White Lake.
As the investigation began, police received further information that a truck matching the description was seen traveling on the Trans-Canada Highway towing a black Wells Cargo trailer.
The trailer was carrying a Harley Davidson motorcycle, which was later confirmed stolen. The motorcycle came loose and crashed into the ditch, while the stolen truck fled the scene.
The truck was seen fleeing by Chase RCMP officers, who lost sight of it but was later observed by Salmon Arm members. The truck fled to a rural residence in Tappen with police following it.
Upon arrival, police arrested the driver, but the other male suspect fled on foot into the woods. A third suspect was also at large and police began a search of the rural property.
The search revealed a marijuana grow operation and a prohibited weapon. The second male suspect was quickly located and arrested.
Upon searching the property, police located an ATV stolen from Alberta, the F-350 truck and camper stolen from Blind Bay, and a 2011 Kenworth logging truck stolen from 100 Mile House.
As well as the marijuana grow operation, police seized a substantial amount of drugs including crack, cocaine, hash, heroin, crystal meth, amphetamine, psilocybin (mushrooms) and prescription drugs, as well as cash and drug trafficking paraphernalia.
A few hours later, the third male suspect was located by police and arrested.
The three men were brought before a justice and were released on strict conditions with a date to appear in Salmon Arm Provincial Court. The men, ages 41, 32 and 30 years old, are all from the Shuswap. They are facing numerous charges of drug possession and trafficking, possession of stolen property over $5,000 and several firearms offences. The RCMP investigation is continuing and further charges could be recommended.