Reports of shots fired at an Ashton Creek property on Trinity Valley Road have helped speed up an RCMP investigation into a suspected drug lab at the site.
Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP had been conducting an investigation on the rural property for several months concerning a possible drug lab producing synthetic drugs.
When a “shots fired” report from the property came in Monday, the investigation was moved forward.
“Our officers responded and five suspects were taken into custody, three men and two women,” said Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk Tuesday.
The suspects were slated to appear in court Tuesday to face charges of production of a synthetic drug, stolen property and firearms offences.
Molendyk confirmed shots were fired but could not say why they were fired.
There were no injuries to any of the suspects.
It is expected the investigation will take several days to complete and clean-up the scene.
A Hazmat team from Vernon was dispatched to Enderby to decontaminate officers involved in the investigation.
“Our officers remain at the scene of this rural property while specialized police units and government environmental agencies conduct their investigation of the property,” said Molendyk. “At this time we believe there is no danger or risk to the public from this property.”
Molendyk said the property was “strategically located,” adding that the driveway into the property was “three-quarters of a kilometre long.”
