Vancouver Island Man Sentenced to 5.5 Years for Major Drug Crimes

UPDATE: A man from Vancouver Island has been sentenced to five years and six months in prison for serious drug charges, as confirmed by Justice Bantourakis. Peter Alexander, aged 41, was apprehended in Port Alberni on February 3, 2022, during a police operation targeting a known drug trafficking location.

Law enforcement stopped Alexander while he was driving a rental U-Haul truck after discovering a suspicious package inside. Upon searching the vehicle, officers uncovered an alarming stash of drugs, including 41 grams of cocaine, 527 grams of fentanyl powder, 198 grams of methamphetamine, and 376 grams of fentanyl and flubromazepam. The total estimated street value of these drugs ranges from $86,000 to $122,000.

Crown prosecutors argued for a more severe sentence of eight years, emphasizing the need for deterrence and denunciation against the growing fentanyl crisis impacting communities across British Columbia. Conversely, the defense sought a lesser sentence of three to three and a half years, citing Alexander’s troubled background.

Justice Bantourakis highlighted the seriousness of fentanyl’s effects, noting Alexander’s personal history marked by instability and substance abuse. “His childhood and adolescence were sadly marred by the kind of instability, emotional neglect, and exposure to both violence and substance abuse that are common in cases like these,” he stated. Alexander’s journey into addiction began at age twenty, with homelessness by seventeen.

Despite his criminal past, Alexander has made notable strides while incarcerated, completing two phases of a rehabilitation program and earning a leadership role mentoring fellow inmates. Several detainees and Alexander’s mother submitted letters attesting to his positive influence and commitment to recovery.

In a letter addressed to the arresting officers, Alexander expressed gratitude for their role in saving his life: “I consider his rehabilitative efforts in that regard to be mitigating,” Justice Bantourakis noted. He acknowledged that Alexander’s motives for trafficking were driven by his addiction rather than greed, which played a role in his sentencing.

However, the judge also weighed the quantity of drugs found and Alexander’s extensive criminal history. “The presence of fentanyl in this case is aggravating, as is the volume of drugs, and there can be no question that Mr. Alexander would have been aware of the potentially lethal consequences of his actions,” Bantourakis added.

In addition to the prison term, the court approved a lifetime firearm ban, a requirement for DNA submission, and the forfeiture of items seized during the arrest. The Crown’s request for a victim fee was denied, with the judge recognizing the potential hardship it could impose on Alexander.

Due to time already served, Alexander received credit for 627 days, effectively reducing his sentence to three years and nine months. As this case underscores the ongoing battle against the fentanyl epidemic, it sparks urgent discussions about addiction, rehabilitation, and community safety in the region.

Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.