19.34°C Vancouver

Feb 11, 2022 8:28 PM - Connect News

Joint investigation with leads to firearms and drug charges in Victoria

Share On
joint-investigation-with-leads-to-firearms-and-drug-charges-in-victoria
A joint investigation between the Victoria Police Department and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC (CFSEU-BC) has now led to criminal charges against three men. (Photo - Victoria Police/Twitter)

A joint investigation between the Victoria Police Department and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC (CFSEU-BC) has now led to criminal charges against three men.

In June 2020, Victoria Police Department’s "Strike Force" unit identified an organized crime group trafficking fentanyl in Victoria. As the investigation progressed it was determined the crime group had ties to the Lower Mainland. In August 2020, acting on this information, CFSEU-BC’s Anti-Trafficking Task Force (ATTF), and Victoria Police Department’s Strike Force collaborated to begin a joint investigation dubbed "Project Juliet".

Over the course of this investigation a total of nine search warrants were executed, six on residences in four jurisdictions and three on luxury vehicles.

Items seized during the investigation includes;

– 20 firearms

– Large quantities of suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy

– $385,390 Canadian cash

– 3 luxury vehiclesSee original release here.On February 8, 2022, the Public Prosecution Services of Canada approved criminal charges against three men for firearms and drug related offences:

Brian James Balla, a 34-year-old male, originally from Calgary now residing in Victoria, (8 charges approved):

– 5 counts have been approved under Section 5(2) CDSA for Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance

– 3 counts have been approved under Section 5(1) CDSA for Trafficking in a Controlled Substance

Vu Bao Nguyen, a 34-year-old male from Surrey (10 charges approved):

– 7 counts have been approved under Section 5(2) CDSA for Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance

– 3 counts have been approved under Section 5(1) CDSA for Trafficking in a Controlled Substance

Brent William Van Buskirk, a 35-year-old male originally from Vancouver, currently in custody (13 charges approved):

– 8 counts have been approved under Section 95(1) Possess a prohibited firearm without authorization

– 2 counts have been approved under Section 92(1) Possess a non-restricted firearm without a license

– 3 counts have been approved under Section 5(2) CDSA for Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance

At the time of his arrest in relation to this investigation, Van Buskirk was on parole for a 2004 murder conviction. Van Buskirk had his parole revoked due to his arrest and is being held in custody awaiting the judicial process.

Balla was taken into custody February 9, 2022 in Victoria and is awaiting a bail hearing.

Nguyen was taken into custody this morning, February 10th, and will remain remanded pending a hearing.

Latest news

BCSep 03, 2025

Phone services, including the 911 landline, down in northern Vancouver Island

Residents in parts of northern Vancouver Island are without landline and cellphone service due to what telecom provider Telus says was damage to infrastructure caused by vandalism. The company's service status map shows both Port McNeill and Port Hardy without home phone, mobile, internet and 911 landline service due to what it says is "damage inflicted upon Telus infrastructure." Other communities on Vancouver Island, including Alert Bay, Campbell River and Port Alice, have also been affected. Emergency Info B.C. says on social media that residents should still try to call 911 if they have an
train-cars-leave-the-tracks-in-b-c-s-kootenay-region-near-albertas-boundary
BCSep 03, 2025

Train cars leave the tracks in B.C.'s Kootenay region near Alberta's boundary

Federal investigators are looking into a train derailment in British Columbia's Kootenay region near the Alberta boundary. The Transportation Safety Board says in a statement that a team is being deployed to the site near Elko, B.C., where investigators will gather information and begin to assess what caused the derailment. A spokesman with rail operator Canadian Pacific Kansas City has confirmed the derailment at about 8 p.m. Tuesday, where multiple cars left the tracks. CPKC says the 12 cars involved were empty and no one was injured as a result of the derailment. It says its crews responded
poilievre-calls-on-liberals-to-scrap-the-temporary-foreign-worker-program
CanadaSep 03, 2025

Poilievre calls on Liberals to scrap the temporary foreign worker program

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the Liberals to scrap the temporary foreign worker program and to stop issuing visas under the program. Poilievre argues a jobs crisis among young people has been caused in part by corporations hiring foreigners who work for less than Canadian citizens. He is calling out specific fast-food chains he claims are hiring foreigners over locals, including through job postings that call specifically for temporary foreign workers. Poilievre accuses the government of creating conditions that frustrate the efforts of young people to start their working
putin-meets-north-koreas-kim-in-beijing
WorldSep 03, 2025

Putin meets North Korea's Kim in Beijing

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have met to begin bilateral talks in Beijing. The two leaders met formally at the Diaoyutai state guest house after attending a major military parade in the heart of the Chinese capital marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Putin and Kim traveled from a formal reception to the negotiations in the same car, the Kremlin said in a post on social media.
carney-cabinet-meets-to-prepare-for-parliaments-return-debate-trade-war-strategy
CanadaSep 03, 2025

Carney cabinet meets to prepare for Parliament's return, debate trade war strategy

American tariffs and an upcoming review of the continental trade pact will headline discussions today as Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet begins its two-day retreat in Toronto. While previous governments referred to these sorts of gatherings as cabinet “retreats,” Carney’s office is rebranding the event as a “cabinet planning forum.” The meetings come two weeks before the House of Commons is to return for the fall sitting and about a month or so before Carney's new government presents its first federal budget. Ministers are expected to spend most of their time discussing U.S. Pre

Related News