Four men charged in connection to cannabis exportation investigation

Four men from the Surrey and Langley areas are facing charges in connection with a cannabis exportation investigation that saw five search warrants executed in the lower mainland last year.

In June, 2018, Federal BC RCMP Major Projects investigators commenced Project EPROMINENT, assisted by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), RCMP Liaison Office in The Hague and the Belgian Federal Public Service Finance, Customs and Excise division, into the export of illicit cannabis from Canada to Europe.

The investigation culminated in the execution of five search warrants on June 18, 2019 in Langley, Surrey and Delta, BC.

The searches in Langley and Surrey resulted in the seizure of a large amount of Canadian currency, five vehicles and twelve firearms.

Also seized was over 1180 kilograms of dried cannabis and over 5300 cannabis plants.

The facility’s medical licence permitted less than 300 plants.

The fifth search warrant was executed in Delta and required the assistance of the Federal RCMP Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response (CLEAR) Team.

As a result, an amount of Aniline, which is a known fentanyl pre-cursor chemical, was seized.

"The cannabis black market continues to try and find ways to improve their profit by exploring options internationally," said Supt. Richard Bergevin, Officer in Charge of the Federal Serious and Organized Crime, Major Projects team in BC.

"With the help of our Federal and International policing partners, we were able to stop the exportation of a significant quantity of cannabis and will continue to combat the efforts of organized crime at home and abroad."

Mark MANASTYRSKI, Jason VAN DEN BORN, William PRICE and Keith WALLIS all face charges of Exportation of Cannabis, Possession for the Purpose of Exporting, Distribution Over 30, and Distribution of Illicit Cannabis.

VAN DEN BORN faces two additional charges of Cultivation Over 4 Plants in House and Careless Use (Storage) of a Firearm.

They are all scheduled to appear next in Surrey Provincial Court on December 16, 2020 at 9:00 am.