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Three men charged after drug bust that included fentanyl

Trio face almost 30 charges after arrest in Abbotsford
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Three men face a combined total of almost 30 charges after the Abbotsford Police Department (APD) conducted a bust that resulted in the seizure of numerous drugs, including those containing fentanyl.

Const. Ian MacDonald said the bust took place March 1 following a “pretty comprehensive investigation” that began at the beginning of the year into a drug operation in Abbotsford.

He said police – including members of the APD gang and drug unit – executed search warrants of a residence and four vehicles in central Abbotsford.

Drugs seized included heroin and cocaine, which analysis later showed both contained fentanyl, carfentanil and methylfentanyl.

Fentanyl is an opioid attributed to the epidemic in drug-overdose deaths across the province in the last year.

Carfentanil is believed to be 100 times more toxic than fentanyl and has just recently begun showing up on the local drug scene.

Methlyfentanyl, an analog of fentanyl, is similarly more potent than fentanyl.

MacDonald said he is not aware of the quantities of drugs seized in the raid, but he said the types discovered are a “sign of the times.”

He said the APD is coming across fentanyl and its related substances more and more often as it conducts its drug investigations.

Although MacDonald couldn’t link the three charged men to specific gang activity, he did point out that the drug trade is controlled by gangs and organized crime.

Now charged in relation to the recent bust are Sarabjit Mann, 22; Karanjit Mann, 19; and Akashdeep Bhoot, 19.

Sarabjit Mann has been charged with 17 offences – 10 counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, two counts of careless use or storage of a firearm, and one count of possession of a prohibited firearm.

Bhoot has been charged with seven offences – five counts of trafficking and two counts of drug possession.

Karanjit Mann has been charged with four offences – one count of trafficking and three counts of possession.

Neither Sarabjit Mann nor Bhoot has prior criminal histories in B.C., according to the provincial court database.

But Karanjit Mann was among three teens arrested and charged a year ago after an Abbotsford family called 911, saying they had received a death threat.

Police who responded to the call stopped two vehicles that were leaving the area.

Five males were detained, and a search of one of the cars turned up a 9 mm assault rifle and magazine.

Karanjit and Gurjashandip (Jason) Baringh were charged with uttering threats and occupying a vehicle in which there was a firearm. A 17-year-old was also charged, but cannot be named due to provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

That case is still making its way through the courts and has not yet gone to trial.

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Karanjit Mann


Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
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