IN February 2016, the Coquitlam RCMP Drugs and Organized Crime team launched an investigation into alleged drug trafficking that ultimately became ‘ENightlife’: a 17-month project that has now led to 58 charges against 11 people; the seizure of guns, drugs, luxury cars, and cash; and the disruption of a Coquitlam-based criminal organization that specialized in trafficking fentanyl and relied heavily on family ties.

“Coquitlam is one of the safest communities in Metro Vancouver but the reality is that no community is immune to drug-related crime,” said Inspector Bryon Massie. “The success of ENightlife is an example of what happens when citizens work with their local police and police agencies work with each other—what happens is we create safer communities together.”

The 11 accused range in age from 19 to 69 and include four individuals who represent three generations of one Coquitlam family as well as a father and son from Langley. The alleged leader of the group, 34 year old Coquitlam resident Andrew Leach, is facing 20 charges including directing a criminal organization, conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, and 14 firearms offences. Charges against the other accused include membership in a criminal organization, trafficking in a controlled substance, and 25 firearms offences.

“These charges and seizures are a major milestone for everyone who has worked on ENightlife and great example of how integrated policing is supposed to work,” said Inspector Massie. “Most importantly, this is excellent news for every community that’s been impacted by these individuals and their activities.”

ENightlife started when Coquitlam RCMP Drugs and Organized Crime team targeted an alleged criminal organization trafficking in legal and illegal drugs including fentanyl, Alprazolam (Xanax), cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and MDMA (ecstasy). The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) assisted the investigation by way of the Provincial Tactical Enforcement Priority; a predictive targeting process that integrates municipal, provincial, and federal intelligence.

If you have information about criminal activity in Coquitlam RCMP’s jurisdiction report it through our non-emergency line at 604-945-1550 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.solvecrime.ca.

 

ENightlife Backgrounder

Individuals charged

Merissa Demosten, 24 year old female resident of Coquitlam charged with:

• membership in a criminal organization
• conspiracy to commit drug trafficking
• trafficking in a controlled substance
• possession of a controlled substance
• possession for the purpose of trafficking (x 5)

Status:

• currently in custody
• next court date is October 11, 2017

 

Arghavan Ebrahimi, 25 year old female resident of Coquitlam charged with:

• membership in a criminal organization
• conspiracy to commit drug trafficking
• trafficking in a controlled substance
• possession of a controlled substance

Status:

• released with conditions
• next court date is October 5, 2017

 

Golareh-Sadat Ehtesham-Far, 25 year old female resident of Port Moody charged with:

• membership in a criminal organization
• conspiracy to commit drug trafficking
• trafficking in a controlled substance

Status:

• released with conditions
• next court date is October 5, 2017

 

Morvarid Hashemi, 25 year old female resident of Port Coquitlam charged with:

• membership in a criminal organization
• conspiracy to commit drug trafficking
• trafficking in a controlled substance

Status:

• released with conditions
• next court date is October 5, 2017

 

Zach Morgan Ronald Joyce, 25 year old male resident of Langley charged with:

• conspiracy to commit drug trafficking
• trafficking in a controlled substance

Status:

• released with conditions
• next court date is October 3, 2017

 

Mariah Kemp, 26 year old female resident of Port Moody charged with:

• trafficking in a controlled substance
• conspiracy to commit drug trafficking

Status:

• released with conditions
• next court date is October 3, 2017

 

Andrew Edwin Robert Leach, 34 year old male resident of Coquitlam charged with:

• directing a criminal organization
• conspiracy to commit drug trafficking
• trafficking in a controlled substance
• possession of a controlled substance (x 2)
• possession of proceeds of crime
• possession of a prohibited firearm (x 3)
• possession of a firearm contrary to prohibition (x 6)
• possession of a restricted firearm without a license (x 2)
• possession of a prohibited device for a firearm (x 2)
• possession of a non-restricted firearm without a license

Status:

• currently in custody
• next court date is October 11, 2017

 

Karen Leach (mother of Andrew Leach), 69 year old female resident of Coquitlam charged with:

• possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking
• possession of a restricted firearm without a license
• possession of a prohibited firearm (x 2)
• possession of a prohibited device for a firearm (x 2)
• possession of a non-restricted firearm without a license

Status:

• released with conditions
• next court date is October 5, 2017

 

Marcus Leach (nephew of Andrew Leach), 19 year old male resident of Coquitlam, charged with:

• possession of proceeds of crime
• possession of a prohibited firearm without a license (x 2)
• possession of a restricted firearm without a license
• possession of a prohibited device for a firearm (x 2)

Status:

• released with conditions
• next court date is October 5, 2017

 

Rhonda Leach (sister of Andrew Leach), a 40 year old female resident of Coquitlam charged with: possession of proceeds of crime

Status:

• released with conditions
• next court date is October 5, 2017

 

Ronald James Yaroshuk (father of Zach Joyce), 59 year old male resident of Langley charged with:

• trafficking in a controlled substance

Status:

• released with conditions
• next court date is October 3, 2017

Seized: Firearms

• 1 modified (i.e., sawed-off) shotgun
• 2 unmodified 12 gauge shotguns
• Steyr AUG A 1 rifle
• 1 Norinco carbine
• 1 Sterling sub-machine gun with a prohibited magazine and silencer
• 1 9 mm carbine
• 1 Cobray M11/9 submachine gun
• 6 prohibited carbine magazines
• 1 Steyr 9 mm pistol
• 1 Beretta .40 caliber pistol
• 1 Glock 17 pistol
• 1 modified Glock 23 fully automatic pistol
• 4 high-capacity pistol magazines
• hundreds of rounds of ammunition of various calibers

Seized: Proceeds of Crime

Cash

• $784,603.61 (CAD)
• $5,599.00 (USD)

Vehicles

• 2009 Mercedes-Benz E320
• 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL55
• 2007 Nissan Altima
• 2009 Acura TL