A palm-sized gold and diamond skull medallion is among hundreds of thousands of dollars in luxury jewelry seized by RCMP Wednesday as part of a proceeds of crime investigation against a high-ranking gang member in Prince George, B.C.
Prince George RCMP Gang Task Force removed gold chains, silver and diamond rings as well as watches while executing a search warrant on a local property.
Cpl. Craig Douglass told ctvbc.ca one of the showpieces is a large gold medallion encrusted with diamonds.
"Sort of a mask with fangs and golden eyes -- that sort of thing," he said in a telephone interview. "This isn't stuff that you're going to find in a jewelry store that's for sure."
An appraiser valued the haul at more than $200,000.
Police have executed search warrants at six locations against a man they say is a member of the Game Tight Soldiers and is also connected to the Renegades motorcycle gang.
Task members also found $40,000 cash, three handguns, a machine gun and cocaine, Douglass said.
Police are working with the Crown to lay charges that will have the merchandise classified as proceeds of crime.
"Experts in the area will be called in to provide an opinion in the courts as to whether these jewelry or cash could be acquired through legal means," he said. "We think it's unlikely."
Police say gangs have taken hold of Prince George as they fight to rule the local drug trade, including the Independent Soldiers, the Renegades and a motorcycle gang associated with the Hells Angels.
The city was rated the most dangerous in Canada by Maclean's magazine last year.
Members of the Uniformed Gang Task Force have visited the city several times in recent months to advise local Mounties on tactics.
