Police crack down on gang activity in Okanagan
RCMP detachments throughout the Okanagan assisted with seizures of illicit goods linked to gang activity this summer.
Through July, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) led an investigation into gang violence in identified high-risk areas of the Okanagan.
The unit partnered with the Vernon North Okanagan, Kelowna, Kamloops and Penticton RCMP detachments, as well as the B.C. Highway Patrol, in the initiative intended to mitigate, disrupt and suppress gang violence through proactive and high visibility enforcement.
Working together, the CFSEU-BC and the area police forces identified priority areas, and CFSEU-BC’s Uniform Gang Enforcement Team (UGET) were deployed to those areas at specific times.
The month-long investigation resulted in the seizure of:
- 1.84 kilograms of illicit drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and benzodiazapines
- 224 kilograms of non-government issued cannabis, 211 grams of shatter, and drug lab equipment
- Three firearms, and six other types of imitation firearms such as airsoft
- A total of 47 weapons including a Taser, knives, machetes, a hatchet, carbon fibre brass knuckles, bear spray and a metal baton
- $12,750 in cash
The combined estimated street value of the illicit drugs seized was estimated at $670,000.
The fentanyl seized was equivalent to roughly 29,000 lethal doses.
“During the summer months, with the increase in visitors to the Okanagan, the focused efforts of the UGET team were essential to increasing the safety in public spaces within the community,” said RCMP Insp. Beth McAndie, investigative services officer for Kelowna Regional Detachment.
“The presence and enforcement action provided was key to Kelowna’s ability to ensure public safety to our community.”
According to the media release, CFSEU-BC plans to continue to collaborate in coordinated policing efforts with local RCMP agencies to keep the Okanagan and the Thompson regions safe from organized crime and gang violence.
“We remain committed to a multi-facetted approach including enforcement, disruption, and suppression, along with education to prevent gang involvement, and intervention and exiting services to help high-risk individuals who want to leave the dead-end gang lifestyle,” said RCMP Supt. Alison Laurin, CFSEU-BC’s deputy operations support officer.
The police agency did not specify what community the seized items were collected in, nor did it state how many people were arrested during the seizures.