4 years after Richmond drug bust, 1 of 3 suspects sentenced, police say

An RCMP vehicle is seen in Richmond, B.C., in this undated image. (Shutterstock)

One of three people charged in connection to a 2021 drug bust in Richmond, B.C., has pleaded guilty, local police announced Thursday.

Siu-Kai Chow has been sentenced to 43 months in jail after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, Richmond RCMP said in a news release.

Chow entered his guilty pleas on Sept. 9, according to police.

The charges against him stemmed from an investigation by the Richmond RCMP Organized Crime Unit that began in April 2021 and centred on a home in the 8000 block of Demorest Drive.

Investigators believed the residence “was being used as a hub for the distribution of controlled substances,” police said. They executed a search warrant in May 2021, and charges were approved against Chow and two other suspects in April 2022.

While police did not mention it in their release Friday, online court records show the other two people charged in the case saw the counts against them stayed.

The records show all three individuals were charged with possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution, possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling, and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking.

Chow was also charged with one firearm-related offence, but that charge and the cannabis distribution charge against him were also stayed.

“These investigations are often lengthy, complex and resource-intensive, requiring months or even years of work,” said Chief Supt. Dave Chauhan, officer in charge of the Richmond RCMP, in the release.

“Our officers’ persistence has led to another successful conviction, removing dangerous substances from our community and holding offenders accountable.”