More charges laid in ongoing probe of Surrey, Delta drug-war shootings

Two additional arrests have been made and charges approved in an ongoing probe into the recent Surrey and Delta shootings linked to a drug turf war, police said Wednesday.

On May 12, officers with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C. (CFSEU B.C.), Surrey RCMP and Delta police executed a search warrant on a home in the 7300-block of 123rd Street in Surrey.

The property was identified as the residence of a man believed to be linked to the ongoing conflict. A vehicle was also searched.

During the search, a number of items were seized, including bulk marijuana, four rifles and one handgun. The firearms are now being forensically examined to determine any possible links to the shootings.

As a result of the seizure, two Surrey men were arrested on the property, and have been charged.

Chandanjot Singh Gill,18, isc harged with three counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm, one count of possession of a firearm with ammunition, one count of unsafe storage of a firearm and one count of trafficking in a controlled substance.

Gill remains in custody and is due back in Surrey court on May 29.

Munroop Singh Hayer, 21, is charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. Hayer has been released from custody and is expected back in Surrey court June 3.

“The message is that even though we’ve made arrests and put people in jail, we’re not going to stop with one or two,” said Sgt. Lindsey Houghton of the CFSEU B.C.

Houghton promised more search warrants, arrests and charges were on the way for others involved in the conflict.

“Even though you may not have been arrested yet ... we’re all still resolved to work together to come after you,” Houghton said.

Wednesday’s announcement came just over a week after police last updated the public on the multitask force investigation.

During that update, police said there had been 30 shootings since March 9, and that many victims involved in the shootings were uncooperative, while others remained evasive of police.

At that point, three individuals had been charged, 21 vehicles and 13 weapons seized, and more than $23,000 confiscated as a result of search warrants.

“Investigators and our collective agencies are extremely positive with the progress we’ve made,” Houghton told The Province.

Those with information related to the shootings are asked to contact police through a dedicated tip line at 604-915-6566.