Nineteen people were taken into custody
VPD’S Task Force Barrage has seized more than 14 kilograms of illicit drugs destined for distribution in the Downtown Eastside, disrupting a violent criminal network and removing more than $2 million in illegal substances from the community.
“This neighbourhood continues to be the epicentre for serious crime, overdoses, and toxic drug deaths in our province – and that crisis is fueled by predatory drug dealers, gang members, and other criminals who profit off those whose life circumstances have brought them to the neighbourhood,” says Inspector Gary Hiar, commanding officer of Task Force Barrage.
“This is just a temporary disruption in the Downtown Eastside drug trade, and other criminal organizations are already moving in to fill the void created by this major drug seizure. That means our work is not done.”
Vancouver Police assembled Task Force Barrage in February to reduce violence in the Downtown Eastside, to disrupt criminal networks, and to improve safety for people who live in the neighbourhood by increasing the number of officers in the area and conducting targeted enforcement against violent offenders.
In April, Task Force Barrage initiated an investigation into a group of drug dealers that was believed to be trafficking illicit substances out of a building near East Hastings Street and Gore Avenue. On July 17, following a three-month investigation, Task Force Barrage executed a search warrant at 339 East Hastings Street and seized more than $2 million in drugs and cash, along with multiple weapons.
The seizure includes:
- $141,000 in Canadian and US currency
- 5.5 kilograms of cocaine, including nearly 4 kilograms that was raw and uncut
- 5.3 kilograms of crystal meth
- 3.2 kilograms of raw and processed fentanyl
- 1,594 pills, including methadone and Dilaudid
“This single investigation represents more than 190,000 single doses of illicit drugs taken off the streets, and more than $2 million in profit out of the hands of drug dealers in the Downtown Eastside,” says Hiar. “That’s potentially thousands of overdoses prevented, and thousands of lives saved.”
Nineteen people were taken into custody when the search warrant was executed on July 17. They have been released pending completion of the investigation, when police expect criminal charges will be laid.
During the first five months of Task Force Barrage, Vancouver Police seized 1,145 weapons, recovered 127 real and imitation guns, submitted 492 reports to Crown counsel, and made 740 warrant arrests in the Downtown Eastside.
