A father and son from Langley are two of 11 people accused in a major drug trafficking bust by Coquitlam RCMP.
Zach Morgan Ronald Joyce, 25, and his father Ronald James Yaroshuk, 59, were caught through the RCMP’s ‘ENightlife’ campaign — a 17-month project that has led to 58 charges against 11 people.
Through the investigation, RCMP have also seized guns, drugs, luxury cars and cash, and have disrupted a Coquitlam-based criminal organization that specialized in trafficking fentanyl and relied heavily on family ties.
Joyce is being charged with conspiracy to commit drug trafficking and trafficking in a controlled substance, while Yaroshuk is being charged with trafficking in a controlled substance.
Both are currently released with conditions, with court dates scheduled for Oct. 3.
“Coquitlam is one of the safest communities in Metro Vancouver but the reality is that no community is immune to drug-related crime,” said Inspector Bryon Massie with Coquitlam RCMP.
“The success of ENightlife is an example of what happens when citizens work with their local police and police agencies work with each other — what happens is we create safer communities together.”
The 11 accused range in age from 19 to 69 and include four individuals who represent three generations of one Coquitlam family.
The alleged leader of the group, 34-year-old Coquitlam resident Andrew Leach, is facing 20 charges including directing a criminal organization, conspiracy to commit drug trafficking and 14 firearms offences.
The others accused are Merissa Demosten, 24, of Coquitlam; Arghavan Ebrahimi, 25, of Coquitlam; Golareh-Sadat Ehtesham-Far, 25, of Port Moody; Morvarid Hashemi, 25, of Port Coquitlam; Mariah Kemp, 26, of Port Moody; Karen Leach (mother of Andrew Leach), 69, of Coquitlam; Marcus Leach (nephew of Andrew Leach), 19, of Coquitlam; and Rhonda Leach (sister of Andrew Leach), 40, of Coquitlam.
Their charges include membership in a criminal organization, trafficking in a controlled substance and 25 firearms offences.
“These charges and seizures are a major milestone for everyone who has worked on ENightlife and great example of how integrated policing is supposed to work,” said Inspector Massie.
“Most importantly, this is excellent news for every community that’s been impacted by these individuals and their activities.”
The firearms seized include: one modified shotgun; two unmodified 12-gauge shotguns; a Steyr AUG A 1 rifle; one Norinco carbine; one Sterling sub-machine gun with a prohibited magazine and silencer; one 9 mm carbine; one Cobray M11/9 submachine gun; six prohibited carbine magazines; one Steyr 9 mm pistol; one Beretta .40 caliber pistol; one Glock 17 pistol; one modified Glock 23 fully automatic pistol; four high-capacity pistol magazines; and hundreds of rounds of ammunition of various calibers.
RCMP also found cash amounting to $784,603.61 Canadian and $5,599 American, and seized a 2009 Mercedes-Benz E320; a 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL55; a 2007 Nissan Altima; and a 2009 Acura TL.
ENightlife started when Coquitlam RCMP Drugs and Organized Crime team targeted an alleged criminal organization trafficking in legal and illegal drugs including fentanyl, Alprazolam (Xanax), cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and MDMA (ecstasy).
The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit assisted the investigation by way of the Provincial Tactical Enforcement Priority; a predictive targeting process that integrates municipal, provincial and federal intelligence.
Those who have additional information are asked to call the Coquitlam RCMP non-emergency line at 604-945-1550, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be sent online at www.solvecrime.ca.
