Combined efforts leads to large seizure of drugs, cash and firearms: Surrey RCMP

Surrey RCMP’s Gang Enforcement Team and Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit’s Uniform Gang Enforcement Team are sharing the results of a two month project.

In August 2022, Surrey RCMP Gang Enforcement Team (SGET) and Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit’s Uniform Gang Enforcement Team (CFSEU-UGET) commenced a joint violence suppression initiative.

The two month intitative focused on enhanced enforcement and intradictions, specifically targeting individulas involved in the Lower Mainland gang conflict and individuals identified as Provincial Tactical Enforcement Priorites (PTEP).

Officers from both teams worked together throughout the project which resulted in:

43 Controlled Drugs and Substances Act investigations;

14 people facing charges varying from breach, warrants, obstructions of peace officer, carrying a concealed weapon, unauthorized possession of a firearm, careless use of a firearm, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, possession for the purposes of trafficking, and personating a police officer;

28 vehicles were impounded/seized for various offences and 4 are in the process of being forfeited through the Civil Forfeiture Office;

Approximately $25,000 in cash was seized;

26 Firearms were seized;

Five Imitation Firearms, several bear sprays, knives, Taser and ammunition were seized;

162 Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Clubhouse checks;

226 Curfew checks;

307 Inadmissible Patrons Program (IPP) checks; and

11 Inadmissible Patrons Program (IPP) ejections.

The collective goal of joint enforcement initiatives such as this most recent project with CFSEU-BC, is to drive home the message to gang members and their associates, that they are not welcome here, says Surrey RCMP Proactive Enforcement Officer Inspector Ryan Element. One way we know these anti-gang programs are making a difference is the decreasing number of ejections from restaurants and bars who participate in the Inadmissible Patrons Program. Gang members know not to attend establishments participating in the IPP program, making them safer for familes and other members of our community to enjoy,

CFSEU-BC’s Uniform Gang Enforcement Team works closely with other frontline gang enforcement officers around the province. Our collaborative efforts with the Surrey RCMP’s Gang Enforcement Team brought together the skills, knowledge and expertise of both teams to suppress and disrupt gang activity and related violence in neighbourhoods across the City of Surrey, says Superintendent Alison Laurin, Deputy Operations Support Officer for the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia. Working together, we have been able to seize potentially deadly drugs, weapons and firearms, and intervene to prevent acts of violence from impacting the Surrey community. We are extremely pleased to have been able to partner with SGET on this initiative and look forward to working together again in the near future.