Canadian police in British Columbia bust fentanyl labs, seize chemicals and equipment

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Commander of the RCMP Federal Policing program, in the Pacific Region, Assistant Commissioner David Teboul speaks during an RCMP news conference announcing fentanyl production labs that have been dismantled around British Columbia, in Surrey, British Columbia, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Fentanyl is pictured in evidence bags during a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) news conference announcing fentanyl production labs that have been dismantled around British Columbia, in Surrey, British Columbia, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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A double wall reaction vessel is pictured during a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) news conference announcing fentanyl production labs have been dismantled around British Columbia, in Surrey, British Columbia, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Lab equipment and fentanyl is pictured in evidence bags during a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) news conference announcing production labs that have been dismantled around British Columbia, in Surrey, British Columbia, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Constable Arash R. Seyed speaks during aRoyal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) news conference announcing fentanyl production labs that have been dismantled around British Columbia, in Surrey, British Columbia, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Assistant Commissioner David Teboul speaks during a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) news conference announcing fentanyl production labs that have been dismantled around British Columbia, in Surrey, British Columbia, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Lab equipment is pictured during Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) news conference announcing fentanyl production labs that have been dismantled around British Columbia, in Surrey, British Columbia, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Constable Arash R Seyed stands with a double wall reaction vessel during a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) news conference announcing fentanyl production labs that have been dismantled around British Columbia, in Surrey, British Columbia, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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A respirator is pictured during an Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) news conference announcing production labs that have been dismantled around British Columbia in Surrey, British Columbia, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Deputy Regional Commander of the RCMP Federal Policing program, in the Pacific Region, Chief Superintendent Stephen Lee, speaks during a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) news conference announcing fentanyl production labs have been dismantled around British Columbia, in Surrey, British Columbia, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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A police officer turns on a double wall reaction vessel during a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) news conference announcing fentanyl production labs that have been dismantled around British Columbia, in Surrey, British Columbia,Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

SURREY, British Columbia (AP) — Three drug labs in Canada’s Pacific coast province of British Columbia have been dismantled, police said Thursday, adding that two of the labs are believed to have been used to produce fentanyl while the purpose of the third remains “undetermined.”

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police also arrested two suspects, including someone described as a “chemist,” but no charges have yet been laid as the police investigation continues.

The Mounties say they executed “numerous” search warrants in late March and found the three labs, which were equipped with sophisticated equipment that is also used in “academic and professional research facilities.”

Chief Supt. Stephen Lee, deputy regional commander of the RCMP federal policing program, said the commercial-grade chemistry equipment underscores “disturbing trends” in the increasing scientific sophistication of drug labs used by transnational organized crime groups.

Assistant Commissioner David Teboul said the drugs produced in the labs were not destined for the United States, but he couldn’t reveal how police came to determine that since the investigation is ongoing.

The Mounties say they launched their probe into the importation of precursor chemicals and commercial laboratory equipment used for producing drugs including fentanyl, MDMA and GHB, in the summer of 2023.