Police have charged 31-year-old Nawfal Maher with fleeing officers and possessing drugs for trafficking.
A routine traffic stop turned into a major drug bust when officers seized more than a kilogram of deadly fentanyl along with cocaine, meth, cash, and a vehicle in Maple Ridge.
On Aug. 24, 2024, members of the Uniform Gang Enforcement Team (UGET) with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C. (CFSEU-BC) tried to stop a Dodge Durango that had previously “evaded police.”
But this time, the driver ran out of luck. He bolted on foot, only to be quickly taken down by officers.
Inside the Durango, police uncovered a staggering stash:
- 1.157 kg of fentanyl (enough for thousands of lethal doses)
- 790 g of cocaine
- 337 g of methamphetamine
- 1.93 kg of buffing/cutting agent containing phenothiazine
- 26 g of pills with buprenorphine
- $40,085 in cash
Police also seized the Dodge Durango itself.
Fast-forward to Aug. 15, 2025 — the BC Prosecution Service approved multiple charges against Nawfal Maher, 31, including:
- Three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking fentanyl
- One count each for trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine
- One count of flight from police
Maher was arrested and later released on strict conditions, including a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. He is due back in Port Coquitlam law courts on Aug. 27.
CFSEU-BC says this bust sends a clear warning to drug traffickers.
“This investigation highlights the proactive work of our Uniform Gang Enforcement Team, who are strategically deployed to disrupt gang activity before it escalates,” said Cpl. Sarbjit K. Sangha. “By taking harmful drugs and illicit cash off the street, UGET sends a clear message that traffickers will face enforcement and accountability.”
With over a kilogram of fentanyl off the streets — plus cocaine, meth, and cash — police are calling this a major disruption to gang-linked drug trafficking in B.C.
