Abandoned vehicle in Ashcroft motel parking lot may have been drug lab

Abandoned vehicle in Ashcroft motel parking lot may have been drug lab | iNFOnews.ca
Photographer: Kim Anderson

An abandoned rental vehicle, believed to be connected to the production of illegal drugs, was found abandoned in an Ashcroft motel parking lot earlier this month.

A rental vehicle impounded after being abandoned outside a local motel on Jan. 9 was subject to an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the vehicle’s origin, according to an RCMP media release. A further search of the vehicle revealed items police believe to be consistent with the production of illegal drugs.

The RCMP Federal Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response Team has since been deployed out of Surrey to assist Ashcroft RCMP with the investigation.

CLEAR is a specialized police unit that is responsible for dismantling clandestine drug laboratories and processing hazardous materials found inside.

"The investigation, which is in its early stages, is being led by the Ashcroft RCMP and continues at this time," RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey said in the release. "RCMP ask the public to refrain from attending the area for safety reasons.”

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Ashcroft RCMP at 250-453-2216.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to tips@infonews.ca and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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Steve Arstad

Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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