Cocaine ring between Vancouver Island and mainland busted

Police in B.C. say a cocaine ring that operated between Vancouver Island and the mainland has been busted, and three southern Vancouver Island men are facing charges.

Members of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit say an investigation began in March of last year, targeting one main suspect and several alleged accomplices.

Cocaine worth more than $600,000 was seized from a car near the Swartz Bay ferry terminal in January but police say it took another year to put together a case that would support charges.

Manuel de Jesus Sanchez, 42, of Langford; Juan Carlos Lopez, 27, of Victoria; and Spencer Frederick Fyfe-Wilson, 23, of Esquimalt have all been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and remain in jail awaiting their next court dates.