Joint forces police operation brings down major crime groups, make significant seizures; many South Asians charged

– Project Tariff targeted the Heer / Dhillon / Samra crime group

– Project Temper targeted the Gill crime group

– Project Treachery targeted the Grewal / Dhaliwal crime group

– Project Territory targeted the Kang / Latimer group.

 

POLICE agencies’ Task Force Tourniquet has resulted in the seizure of more than 120 firearms, 50 kilograms of drugs, and more than $1.6 million worth of cash and jewelry.

This is seen as a major blow to Lower Mainland gangsters in one of the most successful gang crime investigations in B.C. history.

Task Force Tourniquet, led by the Vancouver Police Department, includes officers from the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC (CFSEU-BC), the RCMP, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), and local municipal police departments. It was formed in March 2017 in response to increased gang violence in the Lower Mainland.

The multi-agency task force has completed several projects over the past 18 months, including projects Tariff, Temper, Triplet, Treachery, and most recently, Project Territory.

Pressure cooker bomb.
All photos: VPD

Project Territory alone has resulted in the seizure of a pressure cooker improvised explosive device, 93 firearms, 59 prohibited devices, more than 9.5 kilograms of fentanyl, close to 40 kilograms of other illicit drugs, $833,000 cash, $800,000 worth of jewelry, and collector cars valued at $350,000.

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.

Seized cars

“Project Territory was wide-sweeping and has been very successful. We have taken weapons off of the street and disrupted violent activities being committed by several different crime groups,” says VPD Staff-Sgt. 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. Additional charges in the Lower Mainland gang conflict are expected to be laid in the future as the investigations progress.

 

Task Force Tourniquet

 

Task Force Tourniquet was initiated by the Vancouver Police Department in March 2017, in response to the gang violence in the Lower Mainland.

In September 2017, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC (CFSEU-BC) joined the task force, and in January 2018, all Lower Mainland agencies had resources committed.

The task force has targeted four major, violent crime groups in the ongoing gang conflict in British Columbia, and has investigated multiple offences, including murders, shootings, and other violent crimes.

Several projects were initiated by Task Force Tourniquet, including Tariff, Temper, Triplet, Treachery and, most recently, Territory.

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 criminal offences included drug trafficking, firearms possession, proceeds of crime, and participation in a criminal organization.

 

The Kang / Latimer Group

 

The Kang group is composed of members of the Kang family, including Sameet Kang, Gary Kang, Randy Kang (deceased) [See link to story below], their parents, and other close associates, according to police.

The Kang Group is closely aligned with the Red Scorpions Gang, specifically with Jamie Bacon and Kyle Latimer. It’s believed they share common interests in drug lines, and that they commit violence at the behest of or for one another.

The Kang / Latimer Group has been in conflict with multiple groups over the past 18 months and their allegiances remain fluid and ever-changing.

 

 

Project Territory charged persons:

 

Kyle Latimer (Age 27)

Sameet Kang (Age 26)

Gary Kang (Age 22)

Craig Latimer (Age 55)

Csongor Szucs (Age 29)

Anduele Pikientio (Age 22)

Jacob Pereira (Age 25)

Jitesh Vagh (Age 37)

Kristoffer Ghuman (Age 21)

Pashminder Boparai (Age 29)

Manveer Braich (Age 30)

Ranbir Kang (Age 48)

Mohanbir Kang (Age 50)

Gurcharn Kang (Age 68)

 

Project Territory unindicted co-conspirators:

 

James Bacon

Cody Haevischer

Amandeep Mattu

Ranjeev Aujla

Gurvinder Randhawa

Abishake Lohia

Dilraj Gill

Omid Mashinchi

Jasondeep Uppal

 

 

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