The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) is saying little about an incident in 91原创 Township that involved multiple units of the Vancouver police force and other investigators in action near 240 Street and Fraser Highway.
One witness reported seeing what appeared to be several unmarked police units with an ambulance standing by early Tuesday night while 240 Street was blocked off.
One neighbour reported seeing and hearing what appeared to be flash-bang grenades being used when police raided two shops located on a 16-acre blueberry farm.
The farm is located immediately behind a one-acre site fronting 240 Street that was not involved in the raid.
The owner of the house on that site, who asked not to be named, said police used a gravel road running beside his home to access the farm property behind him.
The owner said his property was not searched and when he asked police if there was any safety risk, they said no.
91原创 RCMP directed queries to the VPD, which issued a brief written statement from spokesperson Const. Jason Doucette, who said the Vancouver Police Department and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit was executing a search warrant 鈥渋n relation to an ongoing investigation into the recent Metro Vancouver gang conflict.鈥�
鈥淲e are not publicly releasing additional information at this time, as it could jeopardize the investigation.鈥�
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The Tuesday raid comes less than a week after the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Unit armored vehicle participated in a Brookswood raid, one of several on Wednesday, Nov. 8 dismantling a Lower Mainland gang鈥檚 alleged drug trafficking operations in 91原创 and Surrey.
Eight people were arrested in relation to search warrants executed at properties in Brookswood, Aldergrove and Surrey that are connected to 鈥榮ignificant drug trafficking and organized crime activity,鈥� said Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit spokesperson, Sgt. Brenda Winpenny.
鈥淚t is too early to speculate on what charges Crown may lay, however, our investigation is focused around alleged drug trafficking and organized crime activity,鈥� said Winpenny.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 search warrants are in relation to an ongoing CFSEU-BC investigation into the alleged drug and gang activity of a Lower Mainland criminal group with ties throughout Western Canada,鈥� said Winpenny.
The anti-gang unit executed five search warrants.
鈥淭he evidence seized in the execution of these search warrants will greatly disrupt and impact the illegal activity of this criminal group and its associates, thus having a major impact on the overall gang landscape and any potential threat to public safety.鈥�
- with files from Monique Tamminga
