A former correctional officer is among four men facing a long list of charges related to allegedly smuggling drugs to inmates at an institution in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley.
Jason Lee was arrested Wednesday and charged with nine offences including obstruction of justice as part of a criminal organization; trafficking in a controlled substance as part of a criminal organization; and accepting a bribe as a peace officer, according to Chiliwack RCMP.
He has been released on strict bail conditions, Mounties said. He’s scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 3.
The charges were laid following an investigation between Chilliwack RCMP’s drug section and the Correctional Service of Canada.
Police said they discovered evidence that a correctional officer was smuggling contraband including drugs, weapons and cellphones to inmates.
In September last year, search warrants were executed at “several locations” in Chilliwack, which resulted in the seizure of cash, illicit substances and illegal contraband, according to the RCMP.
Police said three other men — Mark Majcher, Lucas Thiessen and Jeffrey Tkatchuk — are also facing several charges as a result of the investigation, including conspiracy to bribe a peace officer and obstruction of justice.