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Suspected cocaine, fentanyl, mushrooms seized as two arrested in Kelowna, B.C., bust
KELOWNA — Two men have been arrested in a co-ordinated bust in British Columbia’s Interior that saw police seize more than 10 kilograms of illicit substances along with other items related to a drug distribution operation. RCMP in Kelowna, B.C.,…
Will Trump’s reclassifying of medical marijuana have any impact on criminal justice reform?
The Trump administration’s historic move to reclassify state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug was cheered by some advocates but for others, it fell far short for the thousands still incarcerated on federal cannabis-related convictions. The executive order, which acting…
Prediction markets, filled with 24/7 bets, are regulated differently than traditional gambling
Prediction markets let people wager on just about anything — from basketball games to elections. And among the more jarring bets recently, the U.S. military capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The raid has evolved into an insider trading…
B.C. children’s representative says drug crisis having staggering impact on kids
The toxic drug crisis that has killed thousands of people in British Columbia has had a “staggeringly high” impact on the youngest in the province, not only killing hundreds but leaving many more as orphans, the province’s representative for children…
Not much celebration planned for 4/20 in Okanagan, Kamloops
“It is a Monday, it’s a weekday, and Mondays are like, ‘ugh, Monday.’ But why not start the week right?”
Weapons-grade chemical carfentanil surges as dangerous substitute for fentanyl
Nearly two decades after drug addiction sent him to rehab as a teenager, 36-year-old Michael Nalewaja had settled into a quiet life in Alaska where he worked as an electrician. That all came crashing down days before Thanksgiving 2025, when…
B.C. ‘chemical fingerprint’ scheme to track illicit drugs is likened to DNA tests
VANCOUVER — Tucked in the basement of the chemistry building at the University of British Columbia, an arm-sized robot carries out the repetitive task of collecting and weighing colourful vials as machinery whirrs in the background. It’s part of a…
Crown can seek forfeiture of seized assets in derailed Quebec drug cases: top court
OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada says the Crown can seek the forfeiture of assets seized in a drug probe even though the criminal cases against most of the accused were set aside. The matter began when several people…
First Nations overdose deaths in B.C. drop in 2025, but still disproportionally high
VANCOUVER — The number of overdose deaths of First Nations people in British Columbia dropped by about a third in 2025 but the population continues to be disproportionately impacted by the province’s toxic drug crisis that has killed more than…
Almost 40 kg of fentanyl, fentanyl-like products seized at Chilliwack, B.C., lab
VICTORIA — RCMP say the cleanup of an illicit drug-production superlab in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley cost hundreds of thousands of dollars after the initial bust where 40 kilograms of fentanyl and its analogs were discovered along with 5,000 kilograms…
‘Desperately missed’ victims honoured as B.C. marks 10 years of toxic drug emergency
VICTORIA — Paula Beardy said her grandson Sheldon Beardy was a good kid. He would have turned 28 on Monday. But his mother died last year, and after attending her memorial service in August, Sheldon also died of a drug…
Kamloops’ First Cannabis Retailer to Open First Community-Focused Patio Experience
Business Spotlight
A new chapter in cannabis accessibility and customer experience is arriving in Kamloops as Taste Cannabis, located at 279 Tranquille Road, prepares to introduce several new services designed to make legal cannabis more convenient and community-focused. On April 20, 2026,…
Man wanted in B.C. drug-ring case arrested in Germany, returned to Canada
SURREY — A man has been arrested and extradited back to Canada from Germany after a four-year police investigation uncovered an alleged dark-web trafficking ring that distributed counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. A statement from the RCMP’s Pacific region drug and…
Decade of death: With 18,000 lives lost, B.C. counts cost of 10-year drug emergency
VANCOUVER — Brandon Jansen’s mother says he was a warm and inviting “health nut” who enjoyed time at the gym. He was also known for taking people under his wing at some of the 13 drug treatment facilities he attended…
Photo gallery: A decade of death — B.C. counts drug emergency’s cost
Next week marks the 10th anniversary of the declaration of a public health emergency in response to British Columbia’s drug overdose crisis, which has since claimed more than 18,000 lives. Grieving friends and families, former policy makers, medical workers and…