Three people have been arrested following a drug-trafficking investigation in Port McNeill that resulted in the seizure of suspected illicit drugs, firearms, cash, contraband tobacco and vehicles.
The investigation was conducted by the Port McNeill RCMP in partnership with the Island District General Investigation Section (GIS). Police executed multiple search warrants at residences and vehicles in the North Island area as investigators gathered evidence related to suspected drug trafficking.
Among the items seized were more than $100,000 in cash, approximately one kilogram of suspected cocaine and significant quantities of suspected ketamine. Police also seized three firearms and more than 100 cartons of contraband tobacco, along with vehicles believed to be connected to the investigation.
Port McNeill RCMP Detachment Commander Sgt. Erin Stevenson described the seizures as a significant disruption to suspected drug-trafficking activity in the region. The combination of drugs, cash and firearms, police said, demonstrates the serious nature of the criminal activity under investigation.
Investigation Spanned the North Island
The investigation involved coordinated work between local RCMP officers and the Island District GIS, with search warrants carried out at multiple locations and involving vehicles connected to the investigation.
The arrests and seizures are part of ongoing efforts by police to identify and disrupt drug-trafficking networks operating in smaller communities across Vancouver Island.
Police have not indicated that charges have been finalized against the three people arrested. As the investigation continues, the circumstances surrounding the suspects and the seized property remain subject to the criminal justice process.
A Broader Pattern of Drug-Trafficking Investigations
The Port McNeill seizure follows other significant drug-trafficking investigations on Vancouver Island.
In February 2025, Port Alberni RCMP executed search warrants at two residences with assistance from the Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services, BC Highway Patrol and the Integrated Impaired Driving Unit. Three Port Alberni residents—two men and one woman—were arrested, and police seized a large quantity of suspected illicit drugs, cash and contraband cigarettes. That investigation was separate from the current Port McNeill case.
More recently, a four-day police deployment on southern Vancouver Island in early 2026 involved the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia working alongside West Shore RCMP, Saanich police and Victoria police. The operation generated more than 27 investigative files, resulted in seven arrests and led to the seizure of approximately $14,500 in cash and about one kilogram of suspected illicit drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine.
The latest Port McNeill investigation adds another significant seizure to that broader picture, with more than $100,000 in cash and multiple firearms recovered alongside suspected drugs.
For North Island communities, the investigation is another reminder that organized drug trafficking is not limited to major urban centres. Police continue to rely on investigations, search warrants and cooperation between specialized units to identify those believed to be involved in the distribution of illicit drugs.
The Port McNeill investigation remains ongoing.
