A Vernon man was arrested after Nanaimo RCMP pulled over a vehicle that they say contained drugs, weapons and an improvised explosive device.

According to Nanaimo RCMP, officers were patrolling the area near Bowen and Meredith roads at about 2 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, when they spotted a suspicious vehicle. Officers determined the suspect vehicle, an older-model Ford Focus, did not have valid insurance, so they pulled it over to investigate further.

鈥淸Officers] know the problem spots and when they see a vehicle, they鈥檙e looking for a reason to stop it,鈥� said Gary O鈥橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not so they can issue a little violation ticket or a warning. It鈥檚 so you identify who the driver is, run them for warrants and to see if there鈥檚 anything in the car they shouldn鈥檛 have. In this case it was no insurance and then, in plain view, they saw some of the prohibited weapons in the back seat, so now they have grounds to not only arrest the driver and pull everybody out of the car, but to do a further search of the car.鈥�

Police found an allegedly stolen insurance sticker, a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, a loaded 12-gauge 鈥榸ip-gun鈥� improvised firearm, and a prohibited stun gun flashlight. An improvised explosive device was also found in the trunk of the car.

Members of the RCMP explosives disposal unit were consulted and recommended the IED be taken to a safe area until they arrived.

鈥淲e took it over to a nearby field, secured it and then [the explosives disposal unit] came over from Vancouver and blew it up,鈥� said O鈥橞rien. 鈥淚t was a homemade explosive device that could do serious damage or death to somebody.鈥�

RCMP also say they found suspected fentanyl, several hundred dollars in Canadian currency, ammunition and 鈥榬ip-bags鈥� 鈥� kits containing zap straps, handcuffs, duct tape, knives and other items 鈥� that O鈥橞rien said are used in home invasions.

A 31-year-old man from Vernon and a 23-year-old man and 28-year-old woman, both from Nanaimo, were arrested. Charges are pending and all of the individuals have been released while the investigation continues.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e obviously involved in criminal activity,鈥� O鈥橞rien said. 鈥淲hy are they here? What involvement do they have with Vernon? We will share [this] information with Vernon RCMP.鈥�

O鈥橞rien said the incident was an excellent example of general duty officers conducting a investigation that went from a charge of having no vehicle insurance, to the arrest of three suspects and getting weapons off the streets.

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