10 people face drug charges in Vernon

Charges laid after undercover operation earlier this year

Several people have been arrested for drug trafficking following an undercover operation in Vernon earlier this year.

On July 11, 2018, a 35-year-old Vernon man was arrested for three counts of drug trafficking.

On his arrest, the man was found to be in possession of numerous small bags of crack cocaine and a suspected mix of heroin and fentanyl packaged for street sale, resulting in an additional two charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

On July 13, a 34-year-old Vernon man was arrested for one count of drug trafficking in May and for two counts of drug trafficking in June.

On July 17, a 38-year-old Vernon man was arrested for one count of drug trafficking in April.

Since that time, the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP targeted policing unit has completed an investigation, which has resulted in another six arrests, with an additional nine counts of drug trafficking.

Of the arrests made, nine males, all from Vernon, are facing charges for allegedly trafficking both fentanyl and a mixture of heroin and fentanyl.

A 43-year-old female, Johanna Pauliuk, is wanted for two counts of drug trafficking resulting from the undercover operation.

“The project was very successful in that it targeted street-level drug trafficking,” said Sgt. David Evans. “We specifically targeted the sale of fentanyl, which is causing a significant public safety risk. All the drugs purchased by the undercover operators were fentanyl or fentanyl mixed with heroin.”