Richmond 'super lab' is B.C.'s largest ecstasy bust

RICHMOND -- One million tablets were seized at a Richmond "super lab" last week, in the province's largest-ever ecstasy bust.

Insp. Brian Cantera of the RCMP national drug enforcement branch said there is evidence that the tablets were going to be exported.

"We are a source country for these drugs," said Cantera, adding that B.C. is a leading drug-producing province.

Cantera said that the lab and two related marijuana grow-ops were run by "trusted members" of organized-crime groups.

He would not comment on whether the raids were related to the bust of a major drug syndicate that was shipping drugs to Australia hidden in footbaths from Vancouver. Police said that two automatic pill presses were also seized from the River Road super lab - each press was capable of producing 8,000 to 12,000 pills per hour.

Katie Mercer, The Province

Published: Thursday, June 26, 2008