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Local police agencies have seized over 120 firearms, 50 kg of drugs and more than $1.6 million worth of cash and jewelry through Task Force Tourniquet.
Task Force Tourniquet is led by the Vancouver Police Department with officers from the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC (CFSEU-BC), the RCMP, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team and local municipal police departments.
"The seizure of deadly firearms and drugs in this investigation will undoubtedly save lives,” says Superintendent Brian Gateley, Acting Chief Officer of the CFSEU-BC.
Casing for sniper rifle – police photo
Task Force Tourniquet was formed in March 2017 in response to increased gang violence in the Lower Mainland and has completed several projects over the past 18 months.
The most recent is Project Territory, which targeted the Kang/Latimer group. Police say the Kang Group is aligned with the Red Scorpions Gang, specifically with Jamie Bacon and Kyle Latimer.
Project Territory resulted in the seizure of a pressure cooker improvised explosive device, 93 firearms, 59 banned devices, over 9.5 kilograms of fentanyl, almost 40 kilograms of other illegal drugs, $833,000 cash, $800,000 worth of jewelry, and collector cars valued at $350,000.
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Ninety-two charges have been laid in relation to Project Territory including drug trafficking, firearms possession, proceeds of crime and participation in a criminal organization.
“We have taken weapons off of the street and disrupted violent activities being committed by several different crime groups,” says VPD Staff Sergeant Lisa Byrne, Team Commander for Task Force Tourniquet. “In this case, we have charged individuals involved in criminal organization, which includes family members who participated in the criminal dealings.”
Since March 2017, the work of Task Force Tourniquet has resulted in 201 charges for 34 individuals with more expected to be laid as the investigation progresses.
A breakdown of the different investigations and the results:
Project Tariff targeted the Heer/Dhillon/Samra crime group. A five-month VPD investigation, initiated in March of 2018, resulted in:
- seizure of ten firearms
- seizure of more than two kilograms of heroin, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogues
- arrest of 11 Lower Mainland-based gang associates, and
- 79 criminal charges (pending trial).
Project Temper targeted the Gill crime group in May 2017 and resulted in:
- seizure of four firearms
- arrest of seven individuals, and
- 24 criminal charges (pending trial).
Project Triplet resulted from a police-initiated interdiction event in February 2018 where two individuals were believed to be about to commit a serious indictable offence. It resulted in:
- six criminal charges against two individuals, and
- seizure of one firearm.
Project Treachery targeted the Grewal/Dhaliwal crime group and was initiated in the fall of 2017. During the course of this investigation, investigators learned that a farmhouse at 4096-240th Street in Langley was being used by gang members. Officers executed a search warrant on November 13, 2017, and recovered:
- two improvised explosive devices,
- nine handguns,
- three assault rifles,
- eight stolen vehicles,
- more than 600 rounds of ammunition,
- more than 500 marijuana plants, and
- bulletproof vests.
The investigation is ongoing and investigators expect criminal charges in the future.
Project Territory targeted the Kang/Latimer group. A 17-month investigation initiated in March 2017 resulted in:
- 92 criminal charges against 14 individuals,
- seizure of 93 firearms,
- seizure of one pressure cooker improvised explosive device,
- seizure of 59 prohibited devices,
- seizure of more than 9.5 kilograms of fentanyl,
- seizure of close to 40 kilograms of other illicit drugs,
- seizure of $833,000 cash,
- seizure of $800,000 worth of jewelry, and
- seizure of $350,000 worth of collector cars.
The charges included drug trafficking, firearms possession, proceeds of crime, and participation in a criminal organization.
