BC RCMP Find ‘Fully Functional’ Grenades in Handbag During Home Search

B.C. RCMP say officers found "fully functional" grenades in a handbag at a Prince George residence while conducting searches in a drug investigation. RCMP handout photo

Police in northern B.C. say they had to evacuate an apartment complex after “fully functional” hand grenades were found while officers were executing a search warrant during a drug investigation.

Prince George RCMP said the incident happened while they conducted searches at multiple locations around the city on June 6 and June 7. The searches were an effort to make a “sizeable dent” in the illegal drug trade in the city, RCMP said in a June 24 release.

During a search of one of the residences, officers found a handbag that appeared to contain “several hand grenades,” the release said.

The RCMP’s explosives disposal unit from the Lower Mainland was contacted to dispose of the grenades, which were found to be “fully functional.” As a result, the apartment complex was evacuated in the middle of the night as a safety precaution.

“The evacuations were necessary to ensure residents’ safety and those effected were understanding and cooperative with law enforcement officers throughout the event,” said the release.

The investigation is ongoing.

During the searches, officers also located nearly 20 kilograms of various illegal drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA and ketamine. They also seized more than a dozen cases of contraband cigarettes and several high-powered firearms and handguns with ammunition, according to police.

“These findings represent a significant increase to the threat level we are encountering within the illicit drug trade in Prince George. As the hub city for Northern B.C., we are seeing an increase in the amount of drug trafficking through our community, both as a destination as well as a through point for other cities in the area,” Sgt. Dan Morris said in the release.

In a previous incident in February 2024, police in Abbotsford, B.C., were called to a thrift store after a World War II-era grenade was found by workers in a donation bin.

As a precaution, police shut down the store and surrounding businesses for safety.

Members of the explosives disposal unit were able to assess and determined the grenade had been “decommissioned.” Once it was deemed safe by the bomb squad, the area was reopened.

The individual who donated the item told police he had not meant to donate it. He said he had used the grenade as a paperweight.

Around that same time, the RCMP’s explosives disposal unit were called to a home in Mission, just north of Abbotsford, after reports of a hand grenade found in a home.

A woman told police she found the explosive while going through a family member’s effects.

RCMP said that they were able to confirm the grenade was inert and not a danger.

Police issued a reminder that if anyone finds a potential explosive device, they are not to handle it and call police immediately. RCMP said it was not uncommon for people to come across some items like old munitions, firearms, or blasting caps, and that these items can pose an immediate danger.

The Canadian Press contributed to this article.