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.
And they want to out them in homes downtown.. so now they can hide them even better. Ect… but thats the system for you..
Was reading a letter from…. I won’t mention name. Saying., “ I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with…. the residents of the encampment “ or something to that effect. Shaking my head. The Pleasure? Anyway. Goes round comes round. Was good to see that action by the police. Thankyou!!
Have you put in any time trying to get to know anyone down there or try and understand what is troubling them. NOPE you haven’t.
Huh! What’s bothering them? What about what’s bothering me???
Sounds like you are speaking without any knowledge on the situation to be honest but yea Keep sitting there eating yah pig
We know all about it. Classic, get defensive move. All I see is there is a disgusting mess behind help yourself hands they can’t, or have no control of., and we’re supposed to hold our arms open for more? Has to be something in the water that makes whoever it is that’s pointing the finger at anonymous entities who are actually responsible for this shit show. I must be going insane.
In 2022 the Liberal government removed Bill C-5, which required mandatory sentencing for certain gun offences. Thanks to the Liberal government, these two criminals are free and continue to be a threat to our community.
Wake up, Canada!
All of the “fire arms” in that photo are not illegal nor are they actually fire arms , they are toys used in games that people play like paintball wars that you can go and purches at lots of Canadian stores, paintball or airport balls are fun activities that 100′ s of family’s and groups play all around our country so why are you saying they are illegal?
Those look like real firearms. And they aren’t legal if you dont have a license. You wouldn’t put the very real ammunition into a bb gun.
WTF. A search warrant on a tent??????? Who the hell gives this many rights to trespassing junkies???
Poverty Pimps
They enable them too
Like Amanda Burrows
And she wants to be a mayor of vancouver , how horrible we would be tent city again
First united poverty pimp
Bill. You are bang on. More rights given to criminals than the law abiding.
Search warrant? The justice system in this country is an embarrassment.
Not a single one was a real firearm
Scary!
Finally some action by the authorities.
I don’t see any action from our elected officials – municipal or provincial!! Many, many complaints regarding noise ( screaming, dogs barking at all time of the day/night), garbage everywhere and shady characters. It has been getting worse.
…and the bad apples were tossed back out on the street. Canadians sure love freedom for everyone even if they know those suspects are highly likely to continue to VICTIMIZE more other citizens by theft, assault, arson and vandalism and find other illicit ways to keep up their lifestyles of crime.
None of those “weapons” are prohibited. The RCMP showing why they’re a clown show on the daily, thats why they didn’t announce charges right away. They know it won’t stick.
I am so sick of this. I’m born and raised in Squamish and now have children of my own. This town has changed so much. It’s bad enough dealing with all the out of towners that took over Squamish in last ten to fifteen years but with that came out of town junkies and let w lifes. I live downtown and have had soooo much stolen! The Police do nothing to help prevent this, this slum, tent slum/garbage dump! How has this been aloud to get like this.
All levels of Government are a waste of tax dollars.
Law enforcement is handcuffed by the Liberal Party and the justice system in this country. Anyone who believes you are allowed to camp out on the street and have in possession axes, knives, machetes, paint guns, imitation weapons , needs to move elsewhere. Liberal democracy has gone to far now. We need harsher penalties for crime. It is so obvious.
I can not believe what I am reading. All the call downs etc…these people are human beings that have struggled with mental health and addiction. We should be helping people instead of making them feel like garbage and that they aren’t worth anything.