Local police have arrested two males following a drug seizure at a residence on Merritt Avenue.
An investigation was launched last week due to alleged drug dealing activities at the home, and RCMP obtained a warrant to search the residence on Nov. 1.
During the search, officers found several weapons including a machete, baseball bats, a taser stun gun, an air soft replica pistol and a loaded 22-caliber handgun that had been previously reported as stolen in the Lower Mainland.
The search also revealed approximately 6 pounds of cannabis, 160 grams of heroin, 310 grams of cocaine, 66 grams of methamphetamine, scales, and approximately $3,500 cash along with a large quantity of coins.
Officers found one male suspect asleep inside the residence who was arrested, as well as a second male resident who was arrested for drug trafficking later that day.
One suspect is originally from Vancouver Island, the other is a local resident. Both were arrested without incident.
Staff. Sgt. Lorne Wood said this bust could make a dent in the local drug trade.
“There are always ebbs and flows when you make a seizure like that it changes things in whatever town you are in,” he said. “We’ll wait and see what happens with the state of affairs in Merritt but for a town this size it is a fairly significant seizure.”
At the end of the day, Wood said he is pleased to have the drugs off the street.
“When you start mixing in loaded hand guns and drugs like that — that amount of heroin in a small town like this — a lot of things can go wrong.”
RCMP will continue to investigate, and both suspects are facing charges in relation to drugs and firearms.
The seized items were shown to the Herald following the bust. All photos by Dara Hill/Herald
