VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) -Vancouver Police say one of the city's most notorious crime groups has been destroyed. VPD say 14 arrests have been made and 125 charges laid--so far--under 'Project Torrent', and police are promising 100 more in the coming weeks as they dismantle the 'Buttar crime group'.
No drug charges were on today's list, but VPD Inspector Brad Desmarais says the gang was involved in the drug trade--and those charges are coming. And Desmarais says the Buttar crime group was involved in a lot more. "In this case you see multiple extortions, you see murder-for-hire, you see a plethora of criminal code offenses."
On the list of those arrested: Manjit 'Manny'
Buttar and Bobby Tajinder Gill, purported leaders of gang. Over 250 police officers
from various Lower Mainland forces, including the RCMP, have been involved with this VPD lead investigation, including detectives from Homicide, Sex
Crimes, Domestic Violence, Robbery, and Vice.
The complete list of arrests and charges is available via the VPD website.
Law enforcement agencies tracking gang activity are hopeful of progress in their fight against organized crime, in the wake of the latest arrests involving the Buttar crime group. Sergeant Shinder Kirk with the B.C. Integrated Gang Task Force admits the next step in eliminating gang violence will be challenging.
Kirk says there will always be those individuals attracted to the flashy lifestyle of drugs, money and crime, but these latest arrests soften the criminal network. "There's always that opportunity for individuals who are still engaged in that lifestyle to become involved in the violence. We're cautiously optimistic. Is there a small glow at the end of the tunnel? Absolutely."
Kirk adds that the RCMP's main anti-gang tactics moving forward will be the 'PIE' principal--Prevention, Intervention and Enforcement.