RICHMOND DRUG BUST BIGGEST EVER IN B.C.

The ecstasy lab bust in Richmond was the biggest ever in B.C., RCMP
drug enforcement chiefs revealed Thursday.

An estimated one million pills, which police believe is ecstasy, were
uncovered at a house in Hamilton last week.

But it's emerged that the house had two automated pill-making press
machines capable of producing 8,000 to 12,000 pills an hour, or three
million in a short space of time.

And RCMP also has evidence that the lab at 21880 River Road was
producing narcotics for an international drug distribution ring.

"This was the biggest clandestine drug find ever seen in B.C.," said
chief superintendent Bob Harriman, the officer in charge of B.C.'s
federal criminal operations.

Inspector Brian Cantera, officer in charge of the RCMP Greater
Vancouver Drug Section, said evidence was seized from the house, which
strongly indicates an "international distribution component."

In addition to the drugs, explosive materials and nine semi-automatic
weapons were found in the River Road home. Five Richmond residents
were arrested and face charges related to manufacturing narcotics.

Charged in connection with the Friday, June 20 raid are Richard and
Miranda Suzik, aged 28 and 29 respectively, Robert and Sylvete Rahn,
aged 34 and 33, and John Rahberger, 44.

RCMP said at Thursday's media conference in Richmond that the five
suspects were not known to police. But Harriman said the "people
arrested are thought to be trusted members within an organization."
Another drug house was raided Monday night, just three days after a
massive lab bust in Hamilton.

Police raided a house at 8440 Odlin Crescent Monday night. No one was
in the house, where police found a marijuana grow operation and
explosives. Roughly 10 homes in the immediate area were evacuated when
the explosives were found.

The house raided Monday is linked to the investigation that led police
to raid the River Road lab on June 20.

The two busts were the result of a seven-month-long investigation by
the RCMP's federal Drug Enforcement Branch.

"We do believe that (the River Road) operation was run by organized
crime," said Cpl. Nycki Basra, of Richmond RCMP.