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Two large drug busts in Sea to Sky

Home had $15K in drugs, vehicle $50,000 in cash
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RCMP in Sea to Sky has made two sizable drug busts in the last week, in separate, unrelated instances.

On Nov. 23 at roughly 2:45 p.m., the RCMP observed a male exit a taxi in Lot A, and watched him approach a known drug dealer who was standing with a third male. They entered an elevator, where the police believe a drug deal took place. They arrested the buyer, finding him in possession of a gram of what is believed to be cocaine, and arrested the seller on another floor.

While the suspect was in custody, the RCMP obtained a warrant to search his apartment on the 6100 block of Eagle Ridge Drive. They found a large quantity of what is believed to be cocaine, as well as psilocybins (magic mushrooms), marijuana and hash. As well, they found an unregistered and improperly stored 12-gauge shotgun, evidence of precursors to homemade drugs and what is believed to be a pipe bomb, calling in experts from the RCMP bomb squad and chemical lab to assist in the investigation.

The male suspect, identified as 33-year old Ethan Jennings, made his first court appearance Nov.29 and is being held in custody until a bail hearing on Dec. 8. He's facing six charges; two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking for the cocaine and psilocybin, possession of marijuana, possession of hash, possessing a firearm without a licence and improper storage of a firearm. Additional charges may result from the investigation of the pipe bomb and household chemicals.

There were no charges for the buyer or the third individual.

In an unrelated case, a Squamish traffic officer was conducting a traffic check on Highway 99 near Britannia Beach when a vehicle was stopped smelling strongly of marijuana. A search of the car discovered 17 grams of marijuana and roughly $50,000 in cash. The occupants of the vehicle, a 21-year-old male from Burnaby and 29-year-old female from Maple Ridge were arrested and the drugs, money and vehicle were seized. Police are continuing to investigate.