Owners of Langley home rocked by deadly explosion have same names as couple convicted in grow op – BC

RCMP said they suspect that an illegal drug extraction lab caused a fatal explosion that destroyed a Langley Township home and damaged five others on Friday.

A body, identified by neighbours as a woman, was found inside the debris of the home on Sunday, while two other occupants survived.

Two decades ago, individuals with the same names as the owners of the exploded house were convicted in connection with a grow op at a Burnaby home, according to Global News.

Surveillance footage from a residence across from the home at 7340 196 Street captured the powerful blast that shook the Willowbrook neighbourhood around 10:40 a.m. on Friday.

Neighbor Mark Mullens described the scene as surreal and likened it to a movie.

Mullens rushed to help and witnessed two men emerging from the home after hearing popping sounds and other noises.

Several neighbors revealed to Global News that the deceased victim was the wife of one of the men who escaped the home and the mother of the other man.

Property records identify the homeowners as Thi Ngoan Lam and Hung Manh Tran.

Court records show that Hung Manh Tran faced charges related to a drug production incident in Burnaby in 2002.

RCMP executed a search warrant in 2002 at the Burnaby rental home where Tran resided with his family and discovered a marijuana grow operation.

After the operation was dismantled, the landlord had to pay for repairs due to damages caused by the grow op.

In 2004, Tran was convicted of production and possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to jail time and probation.

Tran was also ordered to pay restitution to BC Hydro for the stolen electricity used in the grow operation.

Langley RCMP declined to comment on the homeowners’ criminal records for drug production when asked.

Neighbours reported seeing numerous compressed gas tanks outside Tran’s destroyed home and officials mentioned the involvement of butane hash oil in the blast.

Langley Township mayor Eric Woodward expressed concern over the illegal activity occurring in a densely populated neighborhood.

RCMP stated that they are conducting a thorough investigation, including expert analysis, to determine the exact cause of the explosion.

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