Six Punjaborigin men among 14 held in Canada’s crackdown on gangsters
MAJOR SEIZURE OF WEAPONS Police have recovered 120 firearms, Canadian $1.6 million (around ₹8.5 crore), cars, jewellery and 59 prohibited items; arrests made after 17month investigation
: After a 17-month investigation into the activities of gangs operating in the Canadian province of British Columbia, the Vancouver Police arrested 14 gangsters, including six men of Punjab-origin, with 120 firearms and heavy amount of drugs, cash and jewellery, on Saturday.
With this operation, the Canadian police claim to have broken the backbone of gangs operating in Lower Mainland region in the country.
The arrested 14 people face 92 charges ranging from drug trafficking to possession of firearms. They also face charges related to using proceeds of crime and participation in a criminal organization.
According to reports published in the Canadian media, the arrested gang members are from the ‘Kang Group’, a gang of Punjab-origin men, and ‘Red Scorpions’, a gang of other locals involved in heinous crimes in British Columbia.
The investigation was titled ‘Project Territory’ and targeted the Kang Group, which the police describe as a family criminal operation having ties with the Red Scorpion Gang.
The Punjab-origin gangsters charged are Sameet Kang, Pashminder Boparai, Manveer Braich, Ranbir Kang, Mohanvir Kang and Gurcharan Kang and Randy Kang (now dead), according to news appearing in Canadian media.
Global News, the Canadabased media house, reported that Task Force Tourniquet, a specially-designed combined operation group that drew officers from multiple agencies, led the ‘Project Territory’.
Task Force Tourniquet claims that it has seized more than $1.6 million (Canadian) (approximately ₹8.5 crore) in cash and jewellery from these gangsters. Cars valued at $350,000 (Canadian) (around ₹1.8 crore) and 59 prohibited items including a pressure cooker improvised explosive device.
Police also seized more than 9.5kg of Fentanyl and nearly 40kg of other illegal drugs from the accused.
“In this case, we have charged individuals involved in the criminal organisation, which includes family members who participated in criminal dealings,” the police statement said.
“Project Territory was widesweeping and has been very successful. We have taken weapons off the street and disrupted violent activities being committed by several different crime groups,” said Vancouver police Staff Sgt, Lisa Byrne, team commander for Task Force Tourniquet, in a statement published in Global News.
The police believe that the Kang Group and the Red Scorpions shared common interest in the drug trade and performed attacks for each other whenever they were in need.