4 charged after lengthy Kelowna drug trafficking investigation

Four Lower Mainland men have been charged with trafficking cocaine and MDMA in relation to a Kelowna RCMP Federal Policing investigation involving several RCMP departments and U.S. agencies.

In March of 2018, the B.C. RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime investigators executed numerous search warrants throughout the Lower Mainland in connection to a complex, high-level MDMA trafficking and cocaine importation investigation, according to the RCMP in a press release.

Investigators seized 12 kilograms of MDMA and $380,000 in cash, the latter of which was allegedly to be used as a down payment for 18 kilograms of cocaine to be imported into Canada.

More than 200 investigators, several RCMP units and U.S. partner agencies were involved with the investigation.

Lower Mainland residents Martino Calabretti, Daniel Alexander, and Zlatko Gavric face charges of conspiracy to import cocaine. Calabretti and Vincenzo Sansalone also face charges of trafficking in MDMA and MDA (synthetic amphetamine) and Calabretti is facing two additional counts of trafficking MDMA, RCMP said.

All four men are scheduled to appear in court April 20.

Some of the cash seized during an RCMP drug trafficking investigation. SUBMITTED / RCMP


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Carli Berry

Carli Berry

Carli Berry has been telling stories in the Okanagan for the past three years and after finding her footing in the newspaper industry, joined the Infonews team in January 2020. Recipient of the 2019 MA Murray award for feature writing, Carli is passionate about stories that involve housing, business and the environment. Born on Vancouver Island, she is happy to say Okanagan Lake reminds, her slightly, of the ocean. Carli can be reached at (250) 864-7494 or email cberry@infonews.ca.