Sea to Sky RCMP arrested two men and seized weapons, ammunition and drugs Thursday morning after executing a search warrant on a tent at a downtown Squamish encampment.
Officers from the Squamish Detachment’s General Duty and Crime Reduction Unit, along with the Sea to Sky RCMP General Investigation Section, carried out the warrant at approximately 9:30 a.m. on May 14 at an encampment off the 37000 block of Third Avenue and Main Street. They were supported by the Lower Mainland District Emergency Response Team and Tactical Support Group.
One man was arrested at the search site. A second man was arrested on Second Avenue about an hour and a half later. Both have since been released, and the Sea to Sky RCMP say charges will be determined based on case facts and evidence analysis over the coming weeks and months.
The search has concluded. Officers reported finding prohibited weapons, imitation firearms, live ammunition, drugs and evidence of drug trafficking at the site.
The warrant stemmed from a long-term investigation by the General Investigation Section into drug trafficking in Squamish, according to the RCMP.
Staff Sgt. Sascha Banks, operations commander for the Squamish Detachment, said the operation reflects the detachment’s response to community concerns about crime in the downtown core.
“In the past 18 months, we have seen an increase in violent incidents and property crime, and we have heard the concerns from residents, specifically in the downtown core,” Banks said in a statement. “From this we have initiated multiple new approaches to the way we police, including focused proactive neighbourhood patrols with the new Crime Reduction Unit, intelligence gathering with analysts, expanding our work with partner agencies such as the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU), and dedication to drug projects and targeted enforcement.”
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Squamish RCMP at 604-892-6100.
