Charges laid against men connected to Red Scorpion drug trafficking ring

Three men connected to a Kamloops drug trafficking ring are facing charges after a year-long investigation.

Kamloops residents Brandon Chappell, 30, and Erwin Dagle, 23, are facing numerous charges for incidents that occurred between October 2016 and March 2017. Coquitlam resident Gregory Wilson, 29, has also beencharged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

KamloopsRCMPseized $191,445in cash, 1.3 kg of cocaine, 56 grams of heroin, 448 grams offentanyl, 717 grams of methamphetamine, 231 grams ofMDMAand one firearm as part of this investigation.

"These are some key players here in Kamloops, one from the Lower Mainland, and it's a substantial amount of money and drugs that have been taken off of the streets of Kamloops," said Cpl. Jodi Shelkie.

Two men arrested

The KamloopsTargeted Enforcement Unit was involved with multiple busts, including a traffic stop north of Merritt in December 2016, and a search of the Heavy Metal Gym and the home of Chappellin January of this year.There weresubsequent searches of the homes ofChappellandDaglein March.

ChappellandDaglewere arrested on Dec. 7 without incident.

Police are still looking for Wilson, who lives inCoquitlam, but is known to visitKamloopsfrequently.

"People should be reassured these arrests have been made and that the charges are going forward," saidShelkie.

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Chappell is facingthree charges of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 along with charges of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking andunlawful possession of a firearm. Dagle is facing five counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.

The two suspects fromKamloopsare expected to appear in court in the coming months.

Charges were approved on Nov. 30, 2017.