A drug bust at approximately 2:30 pm on Monday, July 4, at the Marine Inn resulted in six Powell River residents being arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation concerning drug trafficking and illegal firearms, according to Powell River RCMP sergeant Kevin Day.
"The investigation revealed that they are local individuals and they have resided here locally for some time," said Day. "Police are familiar with them."
During a warranted search of the hotel, police found cocaine, drug paraphernalia and two imitation pistols.
Several police vehicles were parked in front of the Marine Avenue hotel as five males and one female were arrested by police. Four of the suspects are in custody and a pair of suspects were released after the arrest, according to Day.
"Two of them have been released without charge," said Day. "I really can't comment on why yet, but they were released at the discretion of the officers who are investigating."
Day was also unable to comment on potential links to other drug-related investigations or connections to drug supplies from outside the Powell River area.
"It is early on in the investigation and we do not want to compromise it in any way," he said.
The two pistols discovered at the scene were an Airsoft pistol and a paintball gun. Both appeared to be real firearms when police first attended the scene, said Day.
"Sometimes individuals in the drug trade use firearms, so it was a concern of the police," said Day, “and sometimes they use imitation guns and these ones were certainly authentic looking and could be perceived as real if used in a crime."
As word spread on social media about the arrests local residents were quick to congratulate police.
"We appreciate the comments from the public and it's good to know that they have concerns as well, and that those concerns are shared with us," said Day. "It takes a community to stand up to these sorts of problems."
Day encourages anyone who has information that may be helpful to local police to contact them at 604.485.6255, or anonymously through Crimestoppers at 1.800.222.TIPS.
"The police actively pursue these kind of investigations," said Day, "so it's important that if there's any information out there that the community can assist us with, there are avenues that they can relay this information to police anonymously."
