19 charged in 'violent' drug trafficking ring in northeast B.C.: police

Federal prosecutors have approved charges against 19 people, eight of them still at large, after an investigation into what police are calling a violent drug trafficking network in northeastern British Columbia.

Members of B.C.'s Combined Special Enforcement Unit (CSEU) say those arrested have been causing "significant harm" to the Peace Region, and the charges are the cumulation of work that started in 2022.

Investigators say in addition to the arrests, they have also seized a "large quantity" of drugs, firearms and cash.

Earlier this year, CBC's The 5th Estate investigated a string of deaths and disappearances in the community of Dawson Creek, B.C., believed to have been linked to increased violence from the illicit drug trade. Investigators did not say whether any of those arrested are believed to be linked to the deaths or disappearances reported previously.

WATCH | The Fifth Estate: Why have so many people been killed of vanished in Dawson Creek? 

Dawson Creek: We want our town back

2 months ago

Duration 44:50

Local news is disappearing, so we asked viewers for their stories. One person pointed us to Dawson Creek, B.C., where residents feel besieged by killings and a wave of disappearances. Many residents say the RCMP has evaded accountability. Until now.

None of the approved charges are for violent crimes, though Sgt. Brenda Winpenny described the alleged trafficking ring as violent, and illegal weapons charges are among the violations.

Winpenny said she believes the arrests announced Wednesday will significantly "disrupt" criminal activity and the drug trade throughout the northeast.

The CSEU says the arrests are the result of several warrants executed from October 2022 to January 2023 in several communities in B.C.'s Peace region, which is near the B.C.-Alberta border.

Charges, which the CSEU says have been approved by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, include trafficking of a controlled substance, careless use or storage of a firearm and possession of restricted firearms.

Thirteen men and six women have been charged, ranging in age from 24 to 63.

Of the 11 people arrested, two remain in custody, while the rest have been released with conditions.

The remaining eight are wanted on outstanding warrants, and the CSEU has released their photos and descriptions. Winpenny says they are believed to be in either Alberta or the Lower Mainland region of B.C.

Communities rocked by violence

Winpenny also thanked local police in Fort St. John, Dawson Creek and Fort Nelson for their co-operation in the efforts to make the arrests.

Police in those communities have been struggling with a rise in violence in recent years.

In November 2023, extra police were deployed to Dawson Creek after a string of shootings rocked the community of about 12,400, located 400 kilometres by car northeast of Prince George, near the B.C.-Alberta border. CBC News has tallied 11 unsolved cases of people who are missing or killed in the city since 2021.

Neighbouring Fort St. John has also been affected, with some residents complaining of gunshots hitting their homes.

In a statement shared to CBC News, Dawson Creek Mayor Darcy Dober expressed his gratitude to police for the arrests.

"It's great to see the efforts of so many coming to fruition," he said. "We hope that it leads to the resolution of more crimes in our area."

Winpenny says if the CSEU uncovers information that will help local investigators, information will be shared with the proper RCMP detachments.