Members of the B.C. Ambulance Service wear protective face masks and shields as they transfer a patient to St. Paul's hospital in Vancouver, Monday, May 4, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Police say Metro Vancouver gangs may be producing their own illegal drug supplies in an effort to get around border closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vancouver police announced officers uncovered millions of dollars worth of drugs, including 20 kilograms of what's suspected to be fentanyl, as part of a four month investigation.
Inspector Bill Spearn says police believe the seizure shows gangs may be producing their own drugs to get around closer scrutiny at ports and the Canada-US border.
He says it's another example of gangs changing drug trafficking methods to deal with law enforcement.
BC's provincial gang task force previously said it was seeing supply issues and rising prices for illegal drugs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eight people have been arrested and released and police say charges will be recommended in the coming months.