RCMP in British Columbia say they have cut the top off a major international drug- smuggling ring based in the Lower Mainland.

A large part of the operation involved shipping drugs, hidden inside suitcases, from B.C. to Australia, police allege.
(CBC)

Thirty-six people were arrested in Canada, the United States, Japan and Australia during the bust, and worldwide, more than 100 people could face charges, the RCMP said Wednesday morning in Vancouver.

Many of those targeted were not low-level drug dealers, but top-level members of the illegal operation, said the RCMP, and they included a man named Yong Ye, who police allege ran the entire network from Vancouver.

The organized crime group was involved in the production, importation and distribution of numerous drugs, including methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin, ecstasy and cocaine, police allege.

The foundation of the crime ring was cocaine that was shipped from Los Angeles to Toronto, according to police.

Insp. Pat Fogarty said truckers would bring the drugs across the border in Ontario and later, money would be sent by plane from Toronto to Vancouver.

"As a result of their business … sometimes as often as three times a week, couriers transported money back to Vancouver on commercial flights. Over a three-month period alone we counted over $4.6 million in cash."

That cash was allegedly then used to buy the raw materials used to make more drugs such as crystal meth and ecstasy, which were then shipped overseas to Japan, Taiwan and Australia. 

"They specifically constructed boxes and suitcases with hidden compartments to avoid customs detection — the boxes and suitcases were lined with large quantities of illegal drugs," said Fogarty.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) in British Columbia led the investigation, which involved police agencies from Australia, the United States, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, India and China.

"It's cases such as these that highlight the fact that the distribution of illegal drugs is not just a local issue," said Supt. Marianne Ryan, head of the unit. 
 
Altogether, police said the international operation seized:

• More than 600 kg of cocaine.
• More than 111 kg of methamphetamine.
• 83 kg of ecstasy.
• 26 unspecified 'units' of heroin.
• 1,200 kg of drug precursors, including ephedrine and MDP2P.
• 3,500 kg of marijuana.
• Real estate properties worth more than $6 million.
• Vehicles worth more than $300,000.
• $2.1 million in cash.
• 17 handguns and prohibited weapons.

Australian police have charged 14 people, including Canadian nationals living in Australia.

John Lehmann of the Australian Joint Asian Crime Group said the syndicate communicated in code to transport the drugs from their point of manufacture in Canada through China and into Australia.

Police were able to crack the code and infiltrate the gang, he said.

"It was a very sophisticated operation," Lehmann alleged. "They were desperate to ply their trade … because it's a huge money-making venture."

With files from the Associated Press