RCMP Supt. Alison Laurin

(ROB MUNRO / iNFOnews.ca)

A month-long RCMP sweep of gang-related activity in Kamloops and the North and Central Okanagan in July netted dozens of weapons and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of drugs.

But as yet, no one has been charged.

“Any time we can take a weapon, such as the GS-16, off the street and out of the hands of somebody who may use it to commit public violence, we’ve done our job in terms of suppressing gang violence,” RCMP Supt. Alison Laurin said during a news conference at the Kelowna RCMP detachment today, Sept. 21.

The GS-16 is a semi-automatic rifle.

Laurin is with RCMP’s provincial anti-gang unit that worked with local officers to crack down on gangs in the region, such as the Ghost Keepers, Red Alert and outlaw biker gangs.

Guns, weapons and drugs seized by the RCMP from gangs in Kamloops and the Okanagan in July.

Image Credit: Submitted/RCMP

To date, 17 files have been created that could result in multiple charges being laid. Other files are expected to result from the investigations but police have to spend time getting the cases together so the charges will stick, Kelowna RCMP Supt. Kara Triance said.

The seizures include 224 kg of illegal cannabis and 1.84 kg of illegal drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and benzodiazepines estimated to be worth $670,000. There was enough fentanyl for 29,000 fatal doses, Laurin said.

There were three firearms seized and six other guns, such as airsoft, that could be converted to fire ammunition.

There were also 47 other weapons such as knives, machetes, brass knuckles and a taser along with $12,570 in cash.

Triance stressed that local RCMP are focused on dealing with all levels of crime. While she has talked a lot lately about prolific offenders, this is an example of the more violent crime that is happening in these communities.

READ MORE: Crime rates in Okanagan, Kamloops skyrocketing on all fronts

One shooting death in Kelowna in July was gang related.

“Increasingly, we’re seeing younger and younger individuals being involved in gang activity,” Laurin said. “We know that one of top reason youth become involved in gangs is for a sense of belonging. They’re drawn in by the myth of easy money and the false sense of loyalty from the group.”

Gang membership is starting as young as high school age, she said.

“Gangs use many tactics, such as music videos and social media as well as more traditional methods, such as blackmail, creating indebtedness or participation in violence,” Laurin said. ”It will take more of a community effort make sure youth can “find a sense of belonging in other ways,” such as through family, sports, education or jobs, she said.

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