Arrests, charges as VPD foil suspected murder plot on DTES

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Three men have been arrested in connection to a possible attempted murder targeting a drug trafficker on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, that police say is linked to gangs.

The investigation began late last month when police say they became aware of a plot to commit the killing.

“We had a number of investigators, well over 50, who worked around the clock to gather evidence over the last two and a half weeks until they obtained enough information to make these arrests,” explains Sgt. Steve Addison with Vancouver Police.

“We are pleased these individuals have been arrested and we believe this is a significant development in our continued efforts to fight crime and protect the public on the Downtown Eastside.”

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The plot comes as tensions rise between two gangs that operate in the area – Redd Alert and Independent Soldiers.

The three men all in their mid-20s, two from Vancouver and one from New Westminster, have a criminal record and gang ties. “They’re players on the Downtown Eastside and we’re looking into whatever connections they may have to other incidents on the Downtown Eastside, however, I can’t give any specifics,” explains Addison.

Violence in the area isn’t new and although police are treating this as a breakthrough, Addison admits more work needs to be done to help clean things up.

“It’s a tough neighbourhood and it has its challenges. There are a lot of people in the neighbourhood who are vulnerable and our job is to do whatever we can to protect the vulnerable members of that community from the people who come in there and try to prey on them. This is a significant development in our efforts to reduce violence and organized crime in the Downtown Eastside.”

The two gangs mentioned above are not the only ones that have infiltrated the area. “There are a number of individuals who are involved in various street level gangs and criminal organizations as well as individual who are involved in crime but aren’t necessarily affiliated with gangs. These are not the only two organized crime groups operating on the Downtown Eastside.”

Watch: VPD warns of spike in violent incidents at Oppenheimer Park

Recently police have raised the alarm about increased violence in the area given the homeless camp in Oppenheimer Park.

“Back on Sept. 19th, Deputy Chief Howard Chow spoke about continued concerns about the park and how it was acting as a magnet for crime in the Downtown Eastside. We’ve released a number of stats about firearms that have been seized. We’re concerned about the level of violence. We’re concerned about the number of firearms we’re seeing in and around the Downtown Eastside.”

Extra officers have been deployed as a result of those concerns.

“There is a lot more work to do. This, by no means, solves all of the issues on the Downtown Eastside but we’re making progress.”

Although police foiled this plot, they don’t want the average member of the public to live in fear from visiting the area. “Vancouver is safe city. We encourage anybody who has any information that can help us, anybody who has information that can help us fight crime, combat violence – to call us.”

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