Victoria, BC – Officers from our Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) and VicPD Strike Force (SF) have concluded a month-long investigation after a significant amount of fentanyl was seized that was believed to be destined for downtown Victoria streets.
In May, officers began a drug trafficking investigation into a Saanich man. That month-long investigation took investigators to various areas of Greater Victoria and on June 21st, two warrants were executed in Colwood with the assistance of the RCMP Emergency Response Team.
In total, 900 grams of cocaine and over 1.4 kilograms of Fentanyl were seized as well as several firearms and two vehicles. “Investigators suspect that the Fentanyl located is likely of a higher purity and the quantity may be many times greater once made ready for the end user,” Staff Sergeant Conor King stated. “This file is another example that drug trafficking doesn’t follow geographical boundaries and we work with other jurisdictions to prevent drugs from getting on our streets.”
Andrew Ritch has been charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possession of a loaded firearm. The seized vehicles will be handed over to the BC Civil Forfeiture Office.
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