Nearly $80K in illicit drugs, cash seized on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside: police

Vancouver police have seized more than $79,000 worth of illicit drugs and cash following a six-month investigation targeting drug trafficking on the city’s Downtown Eastside. (Vancouver Police Department)

Vancouver police have seized more than $79,000 worth of illicit drugs and cash following a six-month investigation targeting drug trafficking on the city’s Downtown Eastside.

In a news release Friday, the Vancouver Police Department said Project Bingo was launched in December 2025 after officers observed suspicious activity at a single-room occupancy hotel near East Hastings Street and Princess Avenue.

When police carried out a search warrant at the SRO in May of this year, they seized the following items:

• 287 grams of fentanyl;
• 549 grams of crystal methamphetamine;
• 107 grams of cocaine;
• 303 dilaudid pills;
• 86 cartons of illegal cigarettes totaling 17,200 cigarettes.

According to police, the drugs had a combined street value of $65,922, while the cigarettes were valued at $3,300.

Officers seized another $10,338.90 in cash, bringing the total value of the seizure to $79,560.90.

A handgun, prohibited crossbow, ammunition, body armour, swords and multiple other weapons were also seized at the scene, police said.

The VPD arrested a 61-year-old Vancouver man, who was later released pending further investigation. Investigators said they plan to recommend multiple charges to Crown counsel.