B.C.'s Walter White arrested as fentanyl production labs dismantled in three Fraser Valley communities

RCMP Chief Superintendent points to a 'disturbing trend of progressively enhanced scientific and technical expertise, among transnational organized crime groups'

RCMP Federal Policing investigators have busted illicit fentanyl labs in Pitt Meadows, Mission, and Aldergrove, arrested a chemist who was using professional lab-quality equipment, and who says he has an advance degree in organic chemistry.

In a news release issued Thursday, April 10, 2025, the RCMP said federal investigators also seized precursor chemicals, and arrested two suspects.

Search warrants were executed by police between March 26 and March 29 in Pitt Meadows, Mission, Aldergrove, Langley, and Richmond. The searches led to the discovery of three separate illicit fentanyl production labs. Two suspects were arrested at one of the locations, but police didn't immediately say which one.

"The fentanyl production labs located in the cities of Pitt Meadows, Mission, and Aldergrove were equipped with specialized chemical processing equipment often found in academic and professional research facilities, with one of the arrested individuals claiming to be a chemist with an advance degree in organic chemistry," according to the release.

This type of proactive enforcement action into a B.C.-based organized crime group was first launched in the summer of 2023, with the RCMP Clandestine Lab Enforcement and Response (CLEAR) Team initiating an investigation into the importation of precursor chemicals, and commercial laboratory equipment that could be used for the purpose of synthesizing fentanyl.

"This enforcement action is an example of how we counter fentanyl production at its source, and continue to aggressively combat organized crime groups that are becoming increasingly more sophisticated in their scientific, and technical abilities," said Assistant Commissioner David Teboul, commander of the Federal Policing program in the Pacific Region. 

With a nod to Donald Trump and his false accusations that large amounts of fentanyl was coming across the Canadian border, Teboul suggested this was domestic production for domestic distribution.

"The RCMP continues to disrupt the production of fentanyl that is impacting Canadian communities," he said. "There continues to be no evidence, in this case and others, that these labs are producing fentanyl for exportation into the United States."

RCMP Chief Superintendent Stephen Lee said two of the three labs were suspected of producing fentanyl, the third they weren't sure.

"This interdiction has prevented several million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl from being produced and distributed across Canada," Lee said. "However, the discovery of commercial-grade chemistry equipment at all locations, in addition to the arrest of an individual who we suspect has a background in chemistry, points to a disturbing trend of progressively enhanced scientific and technical expertise, among transnational organized crime groups involved in the production and distribution of illicit drugs."

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Paul J. Henderson
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