Throughout the summer and fall of 2023, Prince George RCMP’s Street Crew Unit conducted targeted enforcement on drug traffickers working within Prince George, executing multiple Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrants at residences in Prince George as well as in Langley.
“This investigation clearly demonstrated that the local drug traffickers are being supported by drug lines out of the Lower Mainland with ties to the B.C. gang conflict. We are confident this will send a message to these organized crime groups that there are consequences to importing fentanyl and other hard drugs into Prince George,” said
Sergeant Dan Morris, commander of the Street Crew Unit.
The Public Prosecution Service of Canada has recently approved charges against the following people in relation to this investigation:
Christine Melodie Poitras:
- Participation in a Criminal Organization
- Conspiracy to commit an indictable offense
- Trafficking in a controlled substance
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking
Lucas Benjamin Thiessen:
- Instructing to commit a criminal organization offence
- Participation in a criminal organization
- Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
- Trafficking a controlled substance
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking
Maria Evangilia Nikolov:
- Participation in a criminal organization
- Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
- Trafficking in a controlled substance
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking
These types of interjurisdictional investigations present a challenge for a municipal detachment that is separated by large distances from other police forces, as Prince George RCMP is. This showcases the excellent work done by our investigators and we are supportive of the charge assessment provided by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada,
states Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, Media Relations Officer for the Prince George RCMP.
Lucas Benjamin Thiessen remains in custody in relation to this matter. Christine Melodie Poitras and Maria Evangilia Nikolov remain in their communities on release orders with conditions.
This file is now before the courts.