MISSION, B.C. - A Mission man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after a Mission RCMP investigation seized more than 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl, crack cocaine and seven firearms, including a fully automatic rifle.
Investigation began with traffic stops
After a series of traffic stops and drug seizures in 2021 identified several people believed to be involved in drug trafficking in Mission, the detachment’s Crime Reduction Unit began a targeted investigation into the group. Throughout 2022, investigators used various techniques to gather more evidence, leading to further arrests and drug seizures.
BMW stop led to the seizure
On November 5, 2022, Crime Reduction Unit officers stopped a black BMW in Mission and arrested the driver, Richard Samplonius, for two counts of trafficking a controlled substance. A search warrant executed at his residence the same day led to the seizure of more than 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl, crack cocaine and packaging materials, along with seven firearms, including handguns, shotguns and a fully automatic rifle. Investigators also found evidence the residence was being used to supply fentanyl to street-level dealers in Mission.
Ten-year sentence
Following a lengthy court process, Samplonius, now 45 years old, was convicted of various drug trafficking and firearms offences, and on September 10, 2026, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The BMW and more than $7,000 in cash were forfeited through British Columbia’s Civil Forfeiture Office.
“It took a lot of effort by the dedicated members of our Crime Reduction Unit to gather the evidence for this investigation, which ultimately led to the conviction and 10-year sentence for Mr. Samplonius,” said Inspector Ray Monsef, Mission RCMP’s Officer in Charge. He said he hopes the conviction and sentence will deter others involved in trafficking toxic drugs, given the devastating impact fentanyl is having on so many communities.
Anyone with information about drug trafficking in the Mission area is encouraged to contact Mission RCMP at 604-826-7161. The Mission RCMP file number is 2021-4009.
(Source: Mission RCMP, November 10, 2026)
By Apna News
