26.39°C Vancouver

Oct 27, 2020 5:37 PM -

Four men charged in connection to cannabis exportation investigation

Share On
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.

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.

Latest news

human-remains-discovered-in-burned-vehicle-near-kamloops-b-c-rcmp
BCAug 25, 2025

Human remains discovered in burned vehicle near Kamloops, B.C.: RCMP

Police in Kamloops, B.C., say human remains were found in a burned out vehicle on a road north of the city on Saturday. Mounties say the Tk’emlups Rural RCMP responded to a reported vehicle fire on Tranquille-Criss Creek Road, where they found a burned black 2019 Volkswagen Golf that they believe was stolen. They say officers found human remains inside the car, and the region's major crime unit is now investigating the suspicious death. Staff Sgt. Jason Smart with the Southeast District Major Crime Unit says they're looking for the public's assistance to figure out what led to the fire and d
negotiations-set-to-resume-between-canada-post-union
CanadaAug 25, 2025

Negotiations set to resume between Canada Post, union

Negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers are set to resume. A Canada Post spokeswoman says in a statement that the Crown corporation is committed to the collective bargaining process with CUPW and to reaching an agreement. She says Canada Post is reviewing CUPW's offers and has requested further details to support the process, adding it is in regular contact with CUPW through federal mediators. Canada Post's comments come after negotiations that had been scheduled for Friday were delayed. CUPW said in a press release a day earlier that it was informed by Canada
multiple-journalists-killed-by-israeli-strikes-on-gaza-hospital
WorldAug 25, 2025

Multiple journalists killed by Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital

Four journalists were among at least eight people killed on Monday in a strike on a hospital in southern Gaza, including a freelancer who worked for the Associated Press. Mariam Dagga, 33 freelanced for the AP since the Gaza war began, as well as other news outlets. Daggareported on Nasser Hospital doctorsstruggling to save children with no prior health issues who were wasting away from starvation. Al Jazeera confirmed that its journalist Mohammed Salam was among those who were killed in the Nasser hospital strike. Reuters reported that its contractor cameraman Hussam al-Masri was also killed
carney-travels-to-kyiv-in-show-of-support-for-ukraine
CanadaAug 25, 2025

Carney travels to Kyiv in show of support for Ukraine

Prime Minister Mark Carney has travelled to Ukraine where he is expected to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Carney is in Kyiv as a special guest of Zelenskyy on Ukraine’s Independence Day. The trip marks Carney’s first visit to Ukraine as prime minister. Canada is a member of the Coalition of the Willing, a group of countries which have pledged to support Ukraine in its war against Russia and contribute to maintain peace if a ceasefire deal can be reached. Efforts are intensifying to reach a deal to end the conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump hosted a meeting with Russian Presid
WorldAug 22, 2025

Rollover crash involving tour bus on the New York Thruway leaves multiple dead, others injured

A tour bus returning to New York City from Niagara Falls crashed Friday, killing and injuring multiple people, police said. It was not immediately clear what caused the crash on I-90 near Pembroke, which is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Buffalo. Photos taken by bystanders at the scene showed a bus rolled over on its side, just off the highway. “At this time, we have multiple fatalities, multiple entrapments and multiple injuries,” said Trooper James O’Callahan, a spokesperson for the New York State Police. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. PEMBR

Related News