Fentanyl drug lab bust

UPDATE: 3:15 p.m. 

Police, paramedics, fire and hazmat crews are still on the scene of a drug lab bust in West Kelowna.

“This is the conclusion of a drug production investigation,” officer Dan Minkley said from the scene.

“We have executed a search warrant at this location, where we found drug production equipment – a clandestine lab.”

He says due to the inherent danger of a drug lab of this kind, all precautions were taken and specialized teams were brought in.

The Auburn Road search warrant was conducted in unison with a second related search warrant at a rural property in West Kelowna.

Minkley says RCMP believe the building was used as a production lab where fake prescription drugs were made with Fentanyl and then shipped out.

“This was a counterfeit-prescription-drug lab,” said Minkley.

He says RCMP have actively been investigating the properties for several months.

“There were five arrests made yesterday,” he added.

He says the main target in the investigation is affiliated with organized crime, well known to police and was arrested leaving his home.

Police will be there for the rest of the day, dismantling the lab.  

ORIGINAL: 2:15 p.m.

Police, paramedics, fire and hazmat crews are on the scene of a suspected drug lab in West Kelowna.

A witness and a local business both tell Castanet a meth lab was found on a property in the 2600 block of Auburn Road – this has not been confirmed by police.

Const. Jesse O'Donaghey says officers are currently securing the scene for an execution of a drug warrant.

He says there is currently no risk to the public and no one has been hurt.

We will have more details as information becomes available. 

Photo: Nicholas Johansen