Shamhala sees 104 drug seizures, 61 vehicles impounded
By Castlegar Source
Shambhala is over for another year, and RCMP Sgt. John Ferguson says 2015 was a mixed bag, with no vehicular crashes, but many impounded vehicles drug seizures.
“The WKTS and Nelson IRSU are very happy to report that there were no major crashes involving Shambhala in our patrol area,” Ferguson said. “The RCMP and Integrated Unit worked long hours to ensure the motoring public arrived to their destinations safely. Our focus this year was on the aggressive driving and getting people to drive responsibly.
“It is unfortunate that some did not heed the warnings in the media as in the week of Shambhala we impounded 61 vehicles for traveling well in excess of 40 km/hr an hour over the speed limit. The majority of these were people traveling to and leaving Shambhala.”
Ferguson said they also charged three drivers with being impaired by drugs, one by alcohol and impounded numerous vehicles as the drivers where prohibited from driving or their vehicle was unsafe to be on the roads.
“The WKTS and IRSU unit had 104 drug seizure files,” he added. “The drugs seized where cannabis, MDMA, ketamine, LSD, magic mushrooms, hash oil, cocaine, shatter, steroids, and crystal meth. Approx 23 people were charged with possession of a controlled substances, two charged with trafficking, one for Proceeds of Crime, and one arrested for Breach of her conditional sentence and is in custody.”
He said all charges under the Controlled Substance Act were from people going to and coming from Shambhala.
“Our members spoke to each driver and most of the occupants of the vehicles stopped Monday and Tuesday on the exodus of Shambhala. A very high ratio of the occupants admitted coming from Shambhala and readily confessed to have used illegal controlled substances during the week and weekend,” he said. “We are very happy that everyone arrived home safe this year.”
