A man who was working as a B.C. correctional officer has been charged after allegedly smuggling illegal items to inmates at a Fraser Valley prison.
An investigation by Correctional Service of Canada and Chilliwack RCMP found that contraband items including drugs, weapons and cellphones were being smuggled into an institution in the Fraser Valley.
Search warrants were done at several locations in Chilliwack and money, illicit substances and illegal contraband items were seized. Police say these items supported the investigation.
On Aug. 28, former correctional officer Jason Lee was charged with nine offences.
Lee has been charged with obstruction of justice as part of a criminal organization, conspiracy to obstruct justice, conspiracy to commit the indictable offence of trafficking in a controlled substance, obstruction of justice, accepting a bribe as a peace officer, breaching of trust by a public officer, trafficking in a controlled substance as part of a criminal organization, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and conspiracy to commit the indictable offence of bribery.
Lee’s LinkedIn says he worked as a Correctional Officer from February 2021 to September 2023.
Glacier Media has confirmed with two sources that Lee was working at Kent Institution and had only worked at the facility for a short period of time before being arrested.
Kent Institution is a maximum security prison in B.C. and remains the only exclusive maximum security facility in the Pacific region.
Cpl. Carmen Kiener of the Chilliwack RCMP says this was a complex investigation that required meticulous police work.
"We take this type of criminal activity seriously not only to protect our communities but also to ensure public trust in law enforcement,” says Kiener.
Police also announced on Wednesday that three co-accused are also facing charges after the investigation.
Mark Majcher, Lucas Thiessen and Jeffrey Tkatchuk are facing five charges, including obstruction of justice as part of a criminal organization, conspiracy to obstruct justice, conspiracy to bribe a peace officer, conspiracy to commit the indictable offence of trafficking in a controlled substance and obstruction of justice.
Tkatchuk also faces a charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
"Throughout the investigative process, Canada Correctional Services was an integral partner in ensuring a comprehensive and quality investigation was completed,” says Kiener.
Lee has been released on strict bail conditions, according to police.
None of these allegations have been proven in court.
