A ‘suite of safe supply’ is needed, former Vancouver cop says after drug busts

Vancouver Police Department unveiled a seizure of $3 million in illicit drugs, cash, and guns on Tuesday, in what police are describing as a move that makes life safer for illicit drug users.

But a former Commanding Officer of VPD’s Drug Unit Kash Heed says while enforcement is an important pillar, it needs to come with recovery options, and a comprehensive supply of safer drugs — including addiction medicine, access to psychedelics, and more.

“What I’m talking about is a suite of safe supply. But for some reason in British Columbia, we don’t have our provincial government adopting this type of approach, or our health authorities adopting this type of approach,” Heed explained.

Read More: VPD seize $3 million in drugs, guns and cash from Vancouver crime ring

The year-long policing operation, dubbed ‘Project Torque,’ had its sights set on a drug trafficking group disguising fentanyl pills as generic Percocet — a mixture of acetaminophen and oxycodone.

Police say their search resulted in seizing 72 kilograms of the disguised fentanyl pills, along with 16.5 kilograms of cocaine, 88 kilograms of cutting agents, and more.

Heed notes that police can’t arrest their way out of the toxic drug supply crisis.

“Once these players are taken out, the void is so easily filled because there are so many suppliers that are reaching the demand,” he explained.

“I had record-breaking arrests, record-breaking interdiction of supply, but I didn’t make one iota of difference of what was going on. I didn’t make one iota of difference in the price of the illicit drugs.”

Karen Ward, former City of Vancouver drug policy advisor, tells CityNews that the quality of the drug supply gets worse and more unpredictable after a bust.

“People aren’t safer actually – they’ve lost their source,” she said. “When the police seize product like this, what inevitably happens is that it’s replaced with something of that’s a little less expensive to produce.”

“Endless seizures have accelerated the splintering of the overall supply,” Ward said.

VPD Insp. Phil Heard says three people were arrested and then released pending further investigation.