The parents of a toddler found sitting in the backseat of a car beside a large amount of cocaine were arrested by Victoria police Sunday.

The arrest comes on the heels of a lengthy police investigation, which began in December. Police learned the parents were allegedly bringing cocaine to Victoria from the mainland on a regular basis and selling the illicit drugs to drug dealers here.

"They're going to the mainland to get large amounts of drugs to bring back," said Victoria police spokesperson Const. Mike Russell said.

Officers with the department's Strike Force Unit, who have been leading the case, followed the pair's Acura sedan from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to Victoria on Sunday.

The vehicle was pulled over on Blanshard Street near Nanaimo Street. Police arrested the husband, 35, and wife, 39, seized 10 ounces of cocaine from the backseat of the car and ensured alternative care for the couple's child.

The arrests were a coup for police because "they're high-level drug dealers, but especially for the fact that they have blatant disregard for their kid's safety," Russell said. "They're doing this with the kid in the car."

A search of the couple's apartment suite in the 700-block of Humboldt St. turned up cocaine and crack cocaine. The seized drugs have a combined street value of $16,000.

The husband and wife are facing charges of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. The man is scheduled to appear in court on July 12, and the woman will be summoned to court at a later date.

emccracken@vicnews.com