Man charged in fentanyl bust has U.S. record

A man charged after Delta police raided a major fentanyl laboratory last week has a previous history for smuggling drugs into the U.S.

Scott Theordor Pipping, who is facing 14 charges in B.C., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ecstasy pills, marijuana and hashish in Virginia in April 2007.

He was initially sentenced to 70 months in a U.S. jail, but in 2008, his term was reduced to 18 months. Details of his plea deal remain under seal, as does the application to reduce his sentence.

One of Pipping’s co-accused in the Virgina case was Adam Naname (Nam) Kataoka — a UN gang associate who was later shot to death in Argentina.

Kataoka was convicted in B.C. in the 1990 kidnapping of Jim Pattison’s daughter, Cynthia Kilburn, and served a three-year sentence.

The U.S. indictment said that Kataoka passed hash, pot and pills to Pipping in April 2002 to transport from Vancouver to Toronto and then into the U.S.

Pipping appeared in Surrey provincial court on Monday on eight trafficking charges, one charge of production of a controlled substance and four firearms counts.

He was remanded in custody, along with his co-accused, Adam Summers, until their next appearance March 24.

Acting Sgt. Sarah Swallow provided details of the Delta police probe that culminated in the arrests of Pipping and Summers, and the execution of three search warrants in Burnaby, Surrey and Richmond.

Delta Police Chief Neil Dubord said that “without question, this seizure will save lives.”

“This drug is impacting the lives of everyday people, including those who may use drugs recreationally without understanding its consequences,” he said.