3 males arrested – 119 lbs. of marijuana seized and later five males were arrested on Camp McKinney Rd. late Wednesday near Oliver. No local was involved in this incident. Vehicle was coming from the North Okanagan and hoping to cross the border in the Boundary Country.
The RCMP Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) has seized approximately 119 pounds of marijuana and arrested eight males in connection to a smuggling incident heading south of the border.
On September 21, 2011 the RCMP IBET stopped a 2004 Ford F150 white pick-up truck without incident on Camp McKinney Road in Oliver. The vehicle was heading south bound towards the United States border. Three males were arrested in this vehicle and approximately 119 pounds of marijuana was seized. Further down the road, a second vehicle, a 1995 green Toyota 4Runner, was located in connection to this file, and an additional five males were arrested. The second vehicle contained various pieces of smuggling equipment such as camouflage clothing, camouflage backpacks, outdoor gear, and radios. Both vehicles, the drugs and the equipment were seized. A total of eight males were arrested and will be facing possible charges. They will be summoned to court at a later date. The eight include:
-22-year-old from Kelowna, BC
-30-year-old from Vernon, BC
-31-year-old from Grand Forks, BC
-33-year-old from Kelowna, BC
-38-year-old from Kelowna, BC
-40-year-old from Grand Forks, BC
-41-year-old from Kaleden, BC
-63-year-old from Kelowna, BC
“With the recent organized crime and gang activity in other Okanagan communities, it is important for the public to know that police officers are working tirelessly to combat organized crime everywhere. By intercepting these drugs, we are removing the fuel that drives organized crime,” said Corporal Dan Moskaluk, Media Relations Officer for the RCMP SouthEast District.
Moskaluk told the Grand Forks Gazette at least one of those arrested is related to gang activity but would not identify the gang by name.
The Osoyoos IBET would like to thank everyone who contributed to the successful arrest of these individuals including: North Okanagan Traffic Services, South Okanagan Traffic Services, Oliver / Osoyoos RCMP, Penticton Police Dog Service, Oroville Station US Border Patrol, Curlew Station US Border Patrol and the Penticton South Okanagan Similkameen Regional General Investigation Section.
Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBETs) consist of Canadian and American law enforcement teams sharing information and resources to maximize border security. The teams share a common border and common objective – to stop criminals from using the border as a conduit for illegal activities.
The correct spelling is marijuana, but
since the mexicans pronounce it marihuana it is often spelled with an h rather than a j.