Police raided a tent in a Squamish encampment last week, seizing prohibited weapons, imitation firearms, ammunition, and evidence of drug trafficking following a long-term investigation into local drug sales.
On May 14, 2026, at approximately 9:30 a.m., officers from the Sea to Sky RCMP’s General Duty and Crime Reduction units, along with the detachment’s General Investigation Section, executed a search warrant on a tent located in an encampment off the 37000 block of Third Avenue and Main Street.
The operation involved significant backup. Squamish RCMP were supported by the Lower Mainland District Emergency Response Team and the Lower Mainland District Tactical Support Group, who helped secure the area and ensure the safety of officers, nearby residents, and individuals within the encampment.
According to police, the search was the culmination of a long-term investigation by the Sea to Sky RCMP General Investigation Section into drug trafficking in the Squamish community.
One man was taken into custody at the search location shortly after the warrant was executed. A second man was arrested later that morning on Second Avenue at approximately 11:00 a.m.
Both men have since been released from custody. Police say charges will be determined in the coming weeks and months, based on the facts of the case and the results of ongoing evidence analysis.
During the search, which has now been concluded at the site, officers recovered a number of concerning items, including:
- Numerous prohibited weapons
- Imitation firearms
- Live ammunition
- Drugs
- Evidence consistent with drug trafficking
The RCMP did not disclose the specific types or quantities of drugs seized, nor the identities of the two men arrested.
“Public Safety is paramount to the Squamish RCMP team, and today is an example of that dedication to the community of Squamish,” said Staff Sergeant Sascha Banks, Sea to Sky RCMP Squamish Detachment Operations Commander. “In the past 18 months we have seen an increase in violent incidents and property crime, and we have heard the concerns from residents, specifically in the downtown core. From this we have initiated multiple new approaches to the way we police, including focused proactive neighbourhood patrols with the new Crime Reduction Unit, intelligence gathering with analysts, expanding our work with partner agencies such as the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU), and dedication to drug projects and targeted enforcement.”
