Recently, Coquitlam RCMP cracked down on a fentanyl ring that was operating locally, with precursor chemicals stored in a Port Coquitlam warehouse. But there is no doubt another criminal-in-the making is looking to fill the gap caused by this bust.
Some commentators have suggested provincial and federal government officials have abetted the illegal drug situation by not doing enough to stop drug kingpins from laundering money through casinos or by allowing real estate to be purchased by blind trusts, and other tax-evading measures that may have facilitated the drug trade in what has been identified as the Vancouver Model.
The dozens of Lower Mainland young people who were lured into gangs and were killed have also been claimed as victims of government inaction.
Whether it’s true that a perfect storm was created through lack of oversight at the same time as the opiate crisis got out of hand is hard to say and will be left to the history books.
The horses have left the barn. We are chasing them now and will be into the foreseeable future.
