B.C. drug dealers linked to prominent Mexican cartel, lawsuit claims

New details have emerged about the alleged connection between a B.C. crime group and a prominent Mexican cartel.

Nearly six months after the RCMP raided a multi-million-dollar Surrey home, more details have emerged potentially linking the owner and his associates to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel.

In a B.C. civil forfeiture lawsuit filed Tuesday against James Sclater, John Whalen Jr., and Hector Chavez-Anchondo, the government laid out details of the alleged drug trafficking operation.

The lawsuit states the trio were living at the luxury home owned by Sclater on 77th Avenue and began conspiring to import illegal drugs into Canada several years ago.

The home, valued at more than $2.2 million, was already the subject of a civil forfeiture lawsuit filed last fall. Now, the government is also attempting to seize more than $15,000 in cash, several vehicles, multiple custom motorcycles, and jewelry.

“Since June 2021 at the latest, members of the DTO (drug trafficking operation) including Messrs. Sclater, Chavez-Anchondo and Whalen Jr. have conspired, and have attempted, to import into Canada and distribute bulk cocaine from Mexico,” the document says.

“As part of these efforts, the DTO has agreed to, and made arrangements to, purchase the cocaine from the Cártel de Sinaloa (‘Sinaloa Cartel’) in Mexico. “

The lawsuit claims the group paused its efforts after Sclater was diagnosed with cancer but continued once his health improved, ultimately negotiating with head of the Sinaloa Cartel, Ismael Garcia, better known as “El Mayo”

However, their efforts were again disrupted after El Mayo was arrested by U.S. authorities in July of 2024, the documents say.

“Following El Mayo’s arrest, the DTO commenced negotiations with other parties, known only to the members of the DTO and unknown to the plaintiff, towards the importation and distribution of cocaine in Canada,” the lawsuit alleges.

“Each of Messrs. Sclater, Chavez-Anchondo and Whalen Jr. contributed money on behalf of the DTO, which money was paid to the unknown party to secure the drug shipment,” the claim continues.

“On 12 September 2024, Messrs. Sclater, Chavez-Anchondo and Whalen Jr. attended a location to pick up what they expected to be their shipment of imported cocaine. They were ultimately unable to locate their transportation connection and did not acquire the cocaine,” the documents say.

The RCMP conducted its raid of what it described as the “heavily fortified” home less than two weeks later, seizing large amounts of cash, drugs and guns.

Three people were arrested, but charges have yet to be laid.