Title: Police Continue Investigation at Chilliwack Fentanyl Lab Site

A week after the discovery of a fentanyl super lab on a farm in Chilliwack, British Columbia, police and a specialized cleanup team are still on the scene. The lab, located at 44843B South Sumas Road, was uncovered during an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking and production. On Thursday, a flatbed truck was seen removing chemicals from the site.

Sonny Ghag, the father of the property owner, Robbie Ghag, stated he was unaware of the tenants renting the outbuildings on the 14-hectare property. "Mom was dealing with everything. She just passed away," he said. He noted that the renters had been there for several months but could not specify how long.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) informed Ghag last week that they had obtained a search warrant for the rented property, which is separated from the family home by a tall hedge. "They said that they had a search warrant, and I haven’t seen it. I told them there’s no reason for me to see it — the search warrant — and to fly at it," Ghag added.

RCMP Sgt. Alexandra Mulvihill confirmed via email that the specialized clandestine laboratory enforcement and response team remains active at the site. An update on the investigation is expected next week. Previously, Mulvihill stated that multiple search warrants were executed in connection with the investigation.

Two men, Justin Tyler Fauth, 35, and Carlos Balbino Martinez, 37, were arrested as they left the property. They are facing charges related to the distribution of fentanyl in the Chilliwack area. Their vehicles were also seized. The lab was reportedly producing fentanyl and MDMA, and police discovered significant quantities of precursor chemicals and equipment during the search.

Chilliwack MP Mark Strahl expressed his views on the situation, stating, "Making and selling fentanyl is mass murder, and the penalty should be the same." He thanked law enforcement for their efforts in shutting down the dangerous drug lab and protecting the community.

The lab was situated in a large barn-like structure with a green metal roof. Fauth and Martinez do not have any prior criminal records in British Columbia. They are scheduled to appear in Abbotsford provincial court on October 16 for a bail hearing.

Fauth was previously listed as a director of a now-closed vitamin and supplement store in Abbotsford called Edge Nutrition. Greg Campbell, the owner of a Chilliwack store with the same name, stated that his business had no connection to Fauth but acknowledged having met him at the Abbotsford location. "I know him from him working at the Abbotsford store. He was a nice enough guy. He was quite impassioned about health and wellness," Campbell said.

The discovery of this lab is part of a troubling trend in British Columbia, where authorities have uncovered an increasing number of super labs over the past year. This includes the largest lab ever found in Falkland in October 2025. So far, only one individual, Gaganpreet Singh Randhawa, has been charged in connection with that lab, which was also producing fentanyl, methamphetamine, and MDMA.

The B.C. government has initiated lawsuits to forfeit several properties associated with these labs, including the one in Falkland. Other labs have been dismantled in Spallumcheen, Aldergrove, Pitt Meadows, and Mission, with the latter three containing commercial-grade chemistry equipment, according to RCMP Chief Supt. Stephen Lee.

A recent report from Criminal Intelligence Service Canada indicated that the number of organized crime groups involved in manufacturing synthetic drugs nearly doubled from 2023 to 2024, rising from 51 to 99. The report also highlighted that a third of these groups are involved in importing precursor chemicals, primarily from China, to produce fentanyl and methamphetamine domestically.