A 42-year-old man is in custody following the seizure of a possible improvised explosive device on Vancouver Island.
The device was safely disposed of.
According to the Shawnigan Lake RCMP, the incident took place on January 17. Officers responded to a business on the Malahat after receiving a report of a suspicious blue Ford truck. Upon police arrival, the vehicle fled the scene, prompting assistance from North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP, West Shore RCMP, and the RCMP Police Dog Service to locate the suspect.
The truck, determined to be stolen, was later found abandoned at the Mill Bay Marina. The suspect driver had left the scene in another vehicle, which police subsequently intercepted. Three occupants, including the original suspect from the stolen truck, were taken into custody.
During a search of the stolen Ford truck, officers discovered an improvised explosive device, according to Corporal Alex Bérubé, spokesperson for the BC RCMP. The RCMP Explosive Disposal Unit was deployed via helicopter to safely seize and dispose of the device.
The suspect, a resident of Sooke, remains in custody while the investigation continues. The other two individuals were released without charges.
Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact the Shawnigan Lake RCMP at 250-743-5514.
