Kelowna trial starts for woman accused in large “bath salts” drug seizure

KELOWNA – The trial started Tuesday for an Okanagan woman accused of possessing an unusual type of drug for the purpose of trafficking.

In August 2013, Vancouver border agents intercepted three packages that were mailed to a West Kelowna company from China.

The sender claimed they contained a type of salt, with the labels reading: “This product is only for experimental research purposes. Non-edible.”

They actually contained 15 kilograms of methylone, a type of amphetamine known on the streets as “bath salts”.

RCMP implanted electronic devices into the packages so they could be tracked and police alerted if they were opened.

An officer posing as a postal worker testified she then delivered the drug packages to the West Kelowna residence of 32-year-old Nicole Marie Hubek, who said she needed them for her work, West End Snow Removal.

RCMP executed a search warrant on the residence and Hubek was arrested about 12 hours later.

The prosecutor intends to call 12 witnesses including an expert in the composition and effect of illegal drugs.

The trial resumes Thursday.