Vancouver Police seize loaded rifle and drugs during Downtown Eastside arrest

Vancouver Police say a loaded rifle and several other weapons were taken off the street this week after officers arrested a man suspected of trafficking drugs in the Downtown Eastside. The incident took place Tuesday afternoon near East Hastings and Columbia Street, an area where frontline police and community workers have long raised concerns about violence linked to the drug trade.

According to the Vancouver Police Department, members of the Beat Enforcement Team were on routine patrol around 2:35 p.m. on December 9 when they arrested a 32-year-old Surrey resident outside a residential building. Officers allege the man had been actively selling drugs at the time of the arrest.

Police say the arrest led to the seizure of a modified semi-automatic rifle that was loaded with ammunition, along with a machete, a folding knife, bear spray and quantities of fentanyl. VPD has repeatedly highlighted the risks posed by weapons circulating in the neighbourhood, where drug toxicity and street-level trafficking remain a significant public safety concern.

Investigators continue to examine the case and have not yet announced potential charges. The seizure comes as B.C. police agencies and municipal governments face ongoing pressure to address public disorder and drug-related harm in dense urban areas such as the Downtown Eastside.