Dubbing criminal gangs a “cancer” on Vancouver's health, city police Wednesday announced 14 gang-related arrests as part of a sweep that has come to a head a week before the Winter Olympics begin.
The arrests, with 125 charges laid, target criminal organizations allegedly led by Manny Buttar and Bobby Gill.
Officials, including Mayor Gregor Robertson, rejected suggestions the dramatic announcement is a rebuttal to international media reports that Vancouver is a hotbed of gang crime as its moment in the global spotlight looms.
“The timing is fortuitous certainly, given the world is at our doorstep, but this work has been going on for years now,” Mr. Robertson said during a police headquarters briefing that included a display of 14 rifles, shotguns and handguns as well as a pair of bulletproof vests seized from gang members.
Also included was a jacket with “Integrated Gang Task Force” stencilled on its back, which police allege was part of a plan to impersonate police officers.
“The sheer volume of arrests and charges related to gang activity in Vancouver and around the region over the past year has definitely improved the safety of our streets,” Mr. Robertson said. “There's no question we had real concerns last year, but efforts have been ramped up significantly and good work is being done to bring in the worst perpetrators.”
On Wednesday, police gave a briefing on the so-called Top 10 Myths and Facts about Vancouver's gang situation. The No. 1 myth-fact in the PowerPoint presentation (preceded by a drum roll): “Vancouver is full of gangsters – VPD anti-gang tactics have reduced the violence and devastated their numbers within Vancouver.”
Police have said the Olympics have nothing to do with the timing of the announcements; rather, Project Torrent, a year-old investigation that has led to 200 charges so far, is reaching its final stages. About 250 officers from across the region are involved.
Five of 14 people named in the announcement were arrested Wednesday morning at locations across the region, while the others have been arrested in recent weeks. Police are still seeking one of the 14. As well, four others are in custody, including a 32-year-old woman from Surrey accused of conspiracy to murder in connection with an alleged attempt to hire gang members to kill her husband.
Charges announced include murder conspiracy allegations, firearms offences, including unauthorized possession, weapons trafficking and unauthorized transfer, as well as extortion.
“The organized crime groups operating within the boundaries of our city are a cancer on the health of the community that we intend to remove,” said Inspector Brad Desmarais, head of the force's gangs and drugs section. “They are led by men who have a sociopathic disregard for morals, right and wrong and common decency.”
Chief Constable Jim Chu said investigators are looking at 100 additional charges, but did not provide details.
“Stand by – we'll see you back in this room in a few weeks with the details,” Insp. Desmarais told reporters.
The inspector said the demands of the Games will not diminish his unit's ability to continue gang investigations.
“My unit is virtually untouched for the Olympics,” he said.
