Illegal cannabis-infused potato chips part of RCMP seizure, prompting warning

Police in Surrey, B.C., seized a number of illicit cannabis products on Dec. 17, 2020. (Surrey RCMP handout)

There’s no doubt that a look through the evidence room at Surrey RCMP headquarters would turn up some questionable items, and now police can add illegal cannabis-infused potato chips to that list.

The illicit salty snack was one of dozens of items seized in a large-scale drug trafficking probe in the B.C. city recently. In September, the Surrey RCMP Drug Unit began a proactive investigation into a residence in the 13400-block of Central Avenue.

Police say that as the investigation progressed, officers gathered evidence consistent with the sale and distribution of cannabis products.

On Dec. 17, police executed a search warrant under the Cannabis Act, seizing a wide array of cannabis items, including:

  • Approximately 800 one-gram packets of cannabis shatter
  • Approximately 300 grams of bulk cannabis shatter
  • 10 pounds of bulk cannabis bud
  • 3.5 pounds of packaged cannabis
  • Approximately one pound of bulk cannabis butter
  • 20 vials containing suspected THC distillate and a synthetic compound suspected to be W-18
  • 345 THC vape pens
  • 44 packages of THC gummies
  • Three packages of THC potato chips
  • One pound of psilocybin mushrooms
  • One ounce of bulk MDMA
  • About $5,000 in cash

Four men were initially arrested and later released, pending further investigation. The men are known to police and one of the individuals has ties to the Lower Mainland gang conflict, Mounties said.

Insp. Mike Hall is reminding British Columbians that not only is it illegal for an unauthorized dealer to sell cannabis, it is also illegal to purchase cannabis from an unauthorized dealer, regardless if the purchase is in-store, online or in-person.

Parents should also be aware that cannabis can be inconspicuously consumed through an unassuming product like potato chips.