23.2°C Vancouver

Sep 23, 2022 12:08 AM - Connect News

CFSEU-BC targets gang activity with partners in Okanagan leading to arrests and seizures

Share On
cfseu-bc-targets-gang-activity-with-partners-in-okanagan-leading-to-arrests-and-seizures
Gang and organized crime-related activities and violence impacts every community in British Columbia. (Photo - CFSEU)

This past July, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) led a month-long initiative in collaboration with the Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon-North Okanagan, and Penticton RCMP Detachments, as well as BC Highway Patrol, in an effort to reduce opportunities for gang violence in identified high-risk places and times. The intent was to mitigate, disrupt, and suppress violence through proactive and high visibility enforcement.

Gang and organized crime-related activities and violence impacts every community in British Columbia. CFSEU-BC regularly leads proactive initiatives in partnership with policing agencies throughout the province using both current intelligence and historical gang violence trends to inform strategic deployment targeting identified locations and individuals that pose a threat to public safety due to violent gang-related activity.

Working with our partners in the Thompson and Okanagan regions, utilizing intelligence-led, proactive uniform-based patrols in these jurisdictions enhanced our collective effectiveness to disrupt gang activity and to interdict illegal weapons and commodities.

An analysis of previous gang-related activity in the Thompson/Okanagan enabled the strategic deployment of the CFSEU-BC’s Uniform Gang Enforcement Team (UGET) into identified areas during specific times of the day and days of the week. CFSEU-BC’s UGET worked with officers and analysts from the partner agencies to enhance their respective suppression and enforcement efforts.

Throughout the initiative CFSEU-BC’s UGET seized:

• 1.84 kilograms of illicit drugs (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, benzodiazepines etc.)

• 224 kilograms of non-government issued cannabis and 211 grams of shatter (plus drug lab equipment)

• 3 firearms (plus 6 other types of firearms – e.g. airsoft etc.)

• An assortment of 47 weapons (e.g., taser, knives, machetes, hatchet, carbon fiber brass

knuckles, bear spray, metal baton etc.)

• $12,570 cash

The combined estimated street value of the illicit drugs is estimated at approximately $670,000 and the amount of fentanyl seized is equivalent to approximately 29,000 lethal doses.

"CFSEU-BC’s collaboration with the Kelowna Regional Detachment has been exceptional this year. During the summer months, with the increase in visitors to the Okanagan, the focused efforts of the UGET team were essential to increasing the safety in Public Spaces within the Community," says Inspector Beth McAndie, Investigative Services Officer for Kelowna Regional Detachment. "The presence and enforcement action provided was key to Kelowna’s ability to ensure public safety to our community."

"CFSEU-BC will continue to collaborate in coordinated policing efforts with local RCMP agencies to keep the Thompson / Okanagan region safe from the threats posed by organized crime and gang violence. We remain committed to a multi-facetted approach including enforcement, disruption, and suppression, along with education to prevent gang involvement, and intervention and exiting services to help high-risk individuals who want to leave the dead-end gang lifestyle. I encourage you to visit our website at www.cfseu.bc.ca/end-gang-life to see how you can play a positive role in your community, school or family and help us end gang life" says Superintendent Alison Laurin, CFSEU-BC’s Deputy Operations Support Officer.

Latest news

trump-threatens-russia-with-tariffs-if-war-on-ukraine-isnt-resolved-within-50-days
WorldJul 14, 2025

Trump threatens Russia with tariffs if war on Ukraine isn't resolved within 50 days

President Donald Trump said Monday he would punish Russia with tariffs if there isn't a deal to end the war in Ukraine within 50 days. The Republican president made the announcement during an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. “We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days," Trump said. He did not provide specifics on how the tariffs would be implemented. “I use trade for a lot of things," he added. "But it's great for settling wars.”
quebecers-are-the-happiest-in-canada-p-e-i-residents-least-happy-survey-finds
CanadaJul 14, 2025

Quebecers are the happiest in Canada, P.E.I residents least happy, survey finds

A new poll by Leger has found that Quebec residents are the happiest in Canada. The web survey of nearly 40,000 Canadians found that Quebecers rated their happiness at an average of 72.4 out of 100, which is well above the national average. New Brunswick followed Quebec with an average of 70.2, while Manitoba and Prince Edward Island finished at the bottom of the list. Mississauga, Ont. had the highest happiness rating of the 10 largest cities, while Toronto was lowest. Montreal finished second in the category. The survey found that 49 per cent of respondents said their happiness level was un
tiktok-ceo-asks-to-meet-with-industry-minister-over-shutdown-order
CanadaJul 14, 2025

TikTok CEO asks to meet with industry minister over shutdown order

The CEO of TikTok is asking Industry Minister Mélanie Joly for an urgent meeting about the federal government’s order directing the company to shut down its Canadian operations. Shou Chew wrote to Joly on July 2 asking for an in-person meeting within two weeks, according to a letter obtained by The Canadian Press. Chew argued that order was made in different circumstances, when it looked like the United States was going to ban TikTok. "There is no upside to this outdated and counterproductive government order, which was issued under a different government and in a different era, and which
wildfire-near-princeton-golf-course-in-b-c-prompts-evacuation-order
BCJul 14, 2025

Wildfire near Princeton golf course in B.C. prompts evacuation order

An out-of-control wildfire near Princeton in British Columbia has prompted an evacuation order. The BC Wildfire Service says the August Lake wildfire, which is burning close to Princeton Golf Club, is now mapped at 14 hectares in size. The wildfire service says about 40 firefighters and three helicopters are on scene to contain the blaze. The fire has forced the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen to send out an evacuation order for some areas, urging people in the area to leave, while others are under evacuation alert. The wildfire service says the August Lake wildfire is exhibiting ra
albertas-transgender-ban-in-sports-exempts-visiting-out-of-province-athletes
CanadaJul 14, 2025

Alberta’s transgender ban in sports exempts visiting out-of-province athletes

Alberta is rolling out new regulations in September banning transgender athletes from playing women's sports, but officials say they will still welcome out-of-province transgender competitors. Tourism and Sport Minister Andrew Boitchenko says the province doesn't have the authority to regulate athletes from different jurisdictions because they can't overstep the rules outside groups abide by. Premier Danielle Smith says the ban is about fairness on the playing field so that girls are not battling opponents with biological advantages. But detractors say it's about stigmatizing and punish

Related News