RCMP in the Okanagan are investigating two disappearances and five murders that they believe are related to the drug trade in the Okanagan city of Vernon.

In the most recent incident, police raided a warehouse in Vernon after two men disappeared. The men have been identified as Stanley Pollock and David Marniuk.

RCMP officer prepares to search Vernon warehouse

"It is believed both missing men were involved in Vernon drug trade. The task force is also investigating a series of homicides, also drug related, in Vernon area in 18 months," said spokesperson Cpl. Red Leibel.

RCMP say at least five other people have been killed in North Okanagan during that time.

The first murder victim was 60-year-old Jeffrey Drake. His body was discovered by Okanagan Lake in August 2004.

RCMP Cpl. Red Leibel said there may have been up to seven drug murder in the Vernon area in the past 18 months

Two months later, a 30-year-old Thomas Bryce was beaten to death on the beach near Vernon.

Then in late March of this year, Robert Hughison's body was found on reserve land northwest of Vernon.

At the end of May, 31-year-old Ronald Thom was shot to death. His body was dumped on a back road south of Vernon. Thom's girlfriend Belinda Scott also disappeared. Her body was found three months later.

"I'm sure the investigation will cover whether all or some are linked, or barring that, looking at each on their own," said Leibel.

The warehouse searched on Wednesday is owned by Vernon businessman Zenon Stepkowski – who was formerly implicated in a drug-trafficking case in Vancouver in the late 1990s.

Five years ago, a judge ruled Stepkowski was involved in a conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamines. However, he was not convicted of any offence.

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