Dipendra Varma Bundhoo of Delta, faces charges for three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance and three counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking under the Controlled Drug and Substance Act.  Bundhoo remains in custody pending a court date in late September. Chelsea Tara Hagen of Port Moody also faces numerous charges but was released from custody pending a court appearance.

By PD Raj

CHILLIWACK – A South Asian man is among two people facing charges after being arrested for drug offences by the RCMP in late August.

Dipendra Varma Bundhoo, 27, of Delta, faces charges for three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance and three counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking under the Controlled Drug and Substance Act.  Bundhoo remains in custody pending a court date in late September.

Chelsea Tara Hagen, 23, of Port Moody, faces charges for two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance and three counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking under the Controlled Drug and Substance Act.  Hagen was released from custody pending a court appearance in early October. 

The charges stem from a RCMP dial a dope investigation that was initiated on July 8, 2016 after a Chilliwack RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) officer observed a suspicious transaction occur between Bundhoo and another person behind a building in the 8100 block of Young Road.

“Dial a dope is a criminal operation where the seller and their customer communicate by phone to arrange a pre-determined location to meet for the exchange of illegal drugs,” says Corporal Mike Rail, spoke person for the UFVRD.

As police in Chilliwack conducted their investigation they were supported on August 17, 2016 by officers from the RCMP E Division Support Services.  Over the following twelve days undercover officers met Bundhoo and Hagen on three occasions in commercial parking lots located around the city where the suspects sold crack cocaine to police.

The two suspects were taken into custody by police on August 29, 2016 at the site of the third transaction.  During the arrest, drugs that police believe to be approximately 8 grams of crack cocaine, 5 grams of methamphetamine, 1.6 grams of heroin containing trace amounts of fentanyl, as well as, cash, a vehicle and evidence linking the suspects to the alleged dial a dope operation were seized by RCMP investigators.

“RCMP in Chilliwack have taken another step in reducing organized crime and removing illegal drugs from our streets to ensure the safety of the residents of our community,” said Rail.

Police remind everyone who witnesses anything they believe to be suspicious in nature to contact the Chilliwack RCMP at 604-702-4017 or, should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).