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Police have seized four guns, arrested seven people and recommended 20 criminal charges as part of an anti-gang violence operation called Project Temper.
“Project Temper, a gang violence suppression operation, has resulted in the dismantling of the Gill Group. This violent crime group was comprised of several individuals including its leader, Taqdir Gill,” says VDP Superintendent Mike Porteous.
Seven arrests have been made and the following charges have been approved by Crown Counsel:
- Taqdir Gill, 21-years-old, has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit arson, conspiracy to discharge a firearm, possession of a loaded restricted firearm, occupy a vehicle knowing a firearm is present, and extortion.
- Hitkaran Johal, 19-years-old, has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit arson.
- Simrat Lally, 20-years-old, has been charged with conspiracy to discharge a firearm, conspiracy to commit arson, occupy a vehicle knowing a firearm is present, and two counts of possessing a firearm without a license/registration.
- Walta Abay, 23-years-old, has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, possession of a loaded restricted firearm, and occupying a vehicle knowing a firearm is present.
- Pawandeep Chopra, 20-years-old, has been charged with possession of a loaded restricted firearm.
- A youth, 17-years-old at the time of offence, has been charged with conspiracy to discharge a firearm, possess a firearm without a license/registration, and occupy a vehicle knowing a firearm is present.
- A youth, 17-years-old at the time of offence, has been charged with conspiracy to commit arson.
Project Temper is a partnership between the Vancouver Police and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC) of British Columbia.
“Our continued collaboration with the Vancouver Police, the RCMP, and other police agencies in the Lower Mainland, is critical," says Assistant Commissioner Kevin Hackett, Chief Officer, CFSEU-BC.
"The coordinated and strategic engagement, disruption, and enforcement efforts that we have collectively undertaken since the start of this joint operation will continue as part of our long-term regional strategy," says Hackett.
The VPD is asking any member of the public, who has information on any violent crime, to please contact them at 604-717-0505 or to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
