A loaded handgun, drugs and cash were seized by police from a supportive housing facility on Johnson Street last week.
On Jan. 10, Victoria police officers and members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team executed a search warrant in a unit at at 844 Johnson St. They found the loaded handgun and another firearm and 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine, as well as cash. One man was arrested and has been released pending firearms and drug trafficking charges.
The seizure comes three weeks after officers executed a search warrant in the same building and found two firearms, two kilograms of drugs and over $50,000 in cash. Police are recommending charges against a man and a woman for firearms and drug-trafficking offences.
A week after the seizure, the man returned to the building and threatened to shoot staff, police said. He was arrested and found to be in possession of five ounces of fentanyl and methamphetamine and $3,500 in cash. Investigators are recommending charges of intimidation and possession for the purpose of trafficking.
“To seize firearms from any supportive housing location is unacceptable and to seize this number of firearms is extremely troubling,” said Victoria police Chief Del Manak. “These weapons are being used to exploit some of the most vulnerable members of our community, and the level of violent crime we are seeing here is a significant risk to residents and staff. I want to reassure our community that VicPD are working closely with our partners to address these ongoing safety concerns.”
Avery Taylor, director of operations for the Portland Hotel Society, said the safety of its staff and residents is its first priority, and it fully co-operates with police in investigations.
In July 2022, officers executed simultaneous search warrants on two unit in the same building and found a “cache” of weapons, including a loaded handgun, shotgun, ammunition, replica firearms, a conducted energy weapon, ballistic vest, brass knuckles, axes, batons and miscellaneous firearms parts. A man and a woman were arrested and investigators recommended charges related to firearms offences.
Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call the VicPD Report Desk at 250-995-7654, extension 1. To report anonymously, call Greater Victoria Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at .
