South Okanagan

Photo: RCMP

It was in late November that Penticton RCMP’s Drug Task Force and the Oliver RCMP’s Regional GIS/Task Force conducted a five day undercover operation, targeting street level drug traffickers in the South Okanagan.

The operation – called EPOACH – will see seven people face numerous drug trafficking charges.

Further arrests are anticipated in the immediate future, and a statement by Cpl. Myhre of the Penticton RCMP says these arrests will disrupt networks that have been distributing harmful drugs in those communities.

• Dwayne Lee GABRIEL, age 25, of Penticton faces 2 charges of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Controlled Substance (cocaine) for the Purpose of Trafficking.

• Amanda Loretta HANSEN, age 32, of Penticton faces 3 charges of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) for the Purpose of Trafficking.
• Armando (Adam) DaRosa PEREIRA, age 49, of Penticton faces 1 count of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (Cocaine).

• Alicia Angel FOSTER, age 29, of Penticton faces 1 count of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (Marihuana).

• Donald William MERRITT, age 50, of Okanagan Falls faces 1 count of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) and 1 count of Possession of a Controlled Substance(Methamphetamine).

• Gregory James ANDREW (age 41) of Okanagan Falls faces 1 count of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine).

• Delmar Lawrence SCOTT (age 69) of Oliver faces 3 charges of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine) for the Purpose of Trafficking

All of the accused have since been charged and released on bail with the exception of Donald Merritt, who was remanded into custody.

Several of the accused have prior convictions for trafficking in drugs.