A 21-year-old man wanted in connection with an Aug. 18 drug bust in Chilliwack is now in police custody.
A province-wide warrant was issued last week for Antonio Dillan Nolasco-Padia following two police searches that turned up four kilograms of cocaine, as well as heroin, fentanyl, $130,000 in cash and firearms.
Chilliwack RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Rail said Tuesday that Nolasco-Padia was arrested in Mission and is now in custody.
After the searches last week, police arrested 23-year-old Lucas Benjamin Thiessen who was then charged with trafficking and possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm without a licence.
Nolasco-Padia, although originally taken into custody, was released. Following further investigation, however, he was charged with possessing a controlled substance for the purposes of trafficking.
On Tuesday, Chilliwack RCMP announced Nolasco-Padia had been taken into custody.
Both men are known to police. Thiessen was arrested in 2016 following a lengthy investigation by B.C.’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit. That investigation led to the seizure of eight firearms, prohibited magazines, silencers, and more than $200,000 in cash. Also seized was over $2 million worth of drugs, which included a large quantity of fentanyl.
Nolasco-Padia faces one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
Thiessen faces two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, one count of trafficking in a controlled substance, and two counts of possessing a firearm without licence and/or registration. He is next due in court Sept. 5.