Public plays key role in quick arrest of drug trafficking suspect

Nanaimo

2022-06-28 10:31 PDT

File # 2022-12803

two bricks of cocaine  brick of cocaine stamped with 947

Thanks to the assistance of the general public, a Nanaimo man was arrested with approximately 2 kilograms of suspected cocaine after he was involved in a motor vehicle rollover. The incident occurred at approximately 7:45 PM on Saturday April 16, 2022, at the intersection of Estevan Road and Departure Bay Road.

43-year-old Nicholas Harris of Nanaimo was released later that same evening on an Undertaking to appear on drug charges for June 10, 2022, in Nanaimo Provincial Court.

Police were alerted after several calls were received of a motor vehicle that had rolled at the above noted intersection, and that the driver of the vehicle had crawled out of the wreck and fled on foot. Several witnesses kept an eye on the driver and provided information on the suspects movement and location.

Several minutes later, officers arrived and located the suspect driver in the parking lot of Brooks Landing Mall. Officers initially detained the driver for impaired driving by alcohol however their focus quickly diverted after noting that he was literally holding in his hands two bricks of suspected cocaine. The drugs later weighed in at 2 kilograms. Harris was arrested and later released on an Undertaking for court in June 2022.

The vehicle involved, a newer model black Jaguar convertible, was seized by police and towed from the scene.

The officers who located the suspect were gobsmacked to find the suspect with such a large quantity of illegal drugs, said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP. The officers would also like to extend their sincere appreciation to the bystanders who assisted officers by staying at the scene and provided real time updates which allowed investigators to locate the suspect quickly and efficiently, before he had the opportunity to hide or destroy the drugs, said O’Brien.

On June 10th Harris appeared in Nanaimo Provincial Court and was formally charged with one count of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking. He was released from custody with his next court appearance slated for late August 2022.
 

Released by

Cst. Gary O'Brien

Media Relations Officer
Nanaimo RCMP
303 Prideaux St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 2N3
Office: 250-755-4460 Ext. 4533
Cell: 250-713-0701
Fax: 250-755-3238

Email: gary.obrien@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Website: nanaimo.rcmp-grc.gc.ca

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