VPD links drug, gun bust and arrests to Metro Vancouver shootings

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Four men are in custody and Vancouver police have seized multiple guns and drugs in a raid the department says could be linked to a recent string of shootings across the Lower Mainland.

The Department says it started the investigation, called Operation Tariff, five months ago, following a shooting at a home in Vancouver on March 6. The investigation targeted members of the Heer/Dhillon/Samra crime group which was believed to be in conflict with other gangs throughout Metro Vancouver.

“Various shootings across the region could be related to these people, in fact, the original impetus for this project were some shots being fired while police were surrounding a house in southeast Vancouver in March of this year,” superintendent Mike Porteous said.

“I don’t think, looking at these weapons, that anybody has it for hunting or target shooting so it’s probably a good guess (they are related to other crimes).”

VPD seized 1kg of fentanyl and 1kg heroin and Methylfentanyl, which could be worth millions of dollars, according to Porteous. Eight firearms, including .22mm and .9mm, rifles and 12 gauge shotguns were also seized.

The firearms still need to undergo forensic testing to confirm if they were involved in other crimes.

Four suspected gang members have been arrested and charged with various offences.

Jagraj Mushki Nijjar, 23, and Jaskaran Singh Heer, 22, both from Vancouver, were arrested and charged in March. Nijjar is charged with possession of a non-restricted firearm while Heer, is charged with possession of a loaded restricted firearm, intentionally discharging a restricted firearm, possession of a restricted firearm, and possession of a firearm while prohibited.

Then on Aug. 10, Harjot Singh Samra, 21, of Vancouver, was arrested and charged with firearms trafficking and drug trafficking along with Gary Gurpreet Dhillon, 25, of Richmond, who faces charges of possession of proceeds of crime and drug trafficking.

The seizures and arrests were made in homes and vehicles in Richmond, Surrey and Vancouver.

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