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West Van traffic stop leads to drug charges

A man and women from Surrey were arrested and charged with possession with the purposes of trafficking after a traffic stop on Highway 1 near Horseshoe Bay which police allege revealed drugs, cash and drug paraphernalia stashed in the car.
west vancouver police car

A man and women from Surrey were arrested and charged with possession with the purposes of trafficking after a traffic stop on Highway 1 near Horseshoe Bay which police allege revealed drugs, cash and drug paraphernalia stashed in the car.

When a West Vancouver police officer stopped the car at about 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 8, he noticed an odour coming from the vehicle and subsequently detained the driver and passenger under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

The car was searched and the officer found 216 grams of crystal meth, 370 grams of cocaine, 134 grams of red rock (cocaine and heroin), 14 grams of brown heroin, $2,000 in cash, and items associated with the drug trade, explained Const. Jeff Palmer with the West Vancouver Police Department.

“These are unusual and reasonably substantial amounts for a traffic stop,” Palmer said.

The man was held in custody and had his first appearance on Aug. 9 at North Vancouver Provincial Court. He appeared in court on Aug. 16 and remains remanded in custody until a bail hearing on Sept. 12. The woman was released with a promise to appear in court. Her first hearing on the charges is set for Sept. 12.

Crown counsel has approved three charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking for 34-year-old Matthew Alan Payne of Surrey and for 23-year-old Chelsea Lea Paul of Surrey. The investigation is ongoing.