Woman Sentenced After Massive Drug Bust In Campbell River

A 57 year old woman has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after a major drug bust in Campbell River.

RCMP highlighted on social media that Leah Lewis was sentenced on July 31st, after pleading guilty to trafficking charges stemming from one of the largest drug busts in the region’s recent history.

Last November, a customer at a Campbell River bank told staff he had been kidnapped and was being forced to transfer his vehicle and thousands of dollars to drug traffickers.

Bank employees called the police, and the RCMP Street Crime Unit began monitoring several suspects.

Investigators observed meetings with known drug users and street-level dealers at hotels, parking lots, and residences in and around Campbell River.

In February, police executed a search warrant at the Nursery Road property, described as “fortress-like” in court documents. Officers seized:

• 3,500 Dilaudid (hydromorphone) tablets, believed to be diverted from B.C.’s safe supply program
• 2 kilograms of fentanyl
• 1 kilogram of cocaine
• 1 kilogram of methamphetamine, along with cash, weapons, and drug trafficking materials.

The fentanyl was being diluted, dyed, flavoured, and molded into shapes like dinosaurs and Lego bricks.

Four people - Leah Lewis, Chris Lewis, Shyanne Davis, and Serena Hadley - were charged with drug trafficking.

In addition to the 13 year prison sentence, Lewis also received a mandatory lifetime firearms ban.

Police say the  accused have since been banished from the We Wai Kai First Nation.

Chief Ronnie Chickite says the case highlights concerns about government-funded safe supply medication ending up in the illicit market.

“It’s never ‘safe’ when it’s in the hands of drug dealers. I think the program had intentions, but it’s obviously failed… Seeing the amount that was there — it’s unfortunate, but it’s not the system we need.”

If you have information about drug trafficking or other criminal activity, you can report it anonymously by calling 1-800-222-8477.