Saanich police have arrested a 44-year-old Saanich man for drug trafficking, which was followed by a search warrant at a home last week.
Police say last Thursday, officers of the Saanich Police Street Crime Unit gathered enough information to confirm a man was believed to be trafficking drugs.
Later that day, with the assistance of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Unit and the Victoria Police, a traffic stop was made in the 600 block of Esquimalt Road in Esquimalt. Police say they located drugs, which were individually packaged and ready for sale on the street, cash and multiple cell phones. The suspect was arrested at the traffic stop.
A search warrant was then executed on a home in the 4000 block of Cavallin Court in Saanich. More drugs and cash were seized. Police also found weapons as well as stolen property within the home.
Police say in total, over three kilograms of drugs with a street value estimated at $350,000, over $40,000 in cash, and approximately $25,000 in stolen property were located and seized by police.
The drugs are believed to be cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and crystal methamphetamine. The weapons included batons and two replica firearms. A 2019 Jeep Cherokee was seized and will be recommended for forfeiture.
The cash seized by Saanich police after an arrest and a search warrant on Dec. 12, 2019. (Saanich police)
The drugs and weapons seized by Saanich police after an arrest and a search warrant on Dec. 12, 2019. (Saanich police)
“These are large quantities of drugs that were destined for the streets of Greater Victoria,” said Const. Markus Anastasiades with Saanich police. “As we know, these types of drugs have been responsible for an epidemic of overdose deaths in the region, and we can only hope that this significant drug seizure will help save some lives.”
Jason Van Winkle appeared in Victoria Provincial Court on Friday, where he was charged with three counts of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking and also for Failing to Comply with Conditions of a Recognizance. Police say Van Winkle is well-known to them and has an extensive history of drug trafficking and other related offences. He is set to appear again in court later this week.
Ben Nesbit
