2 men charged with trafficking 'massive amounts' of stolen property in Downtown Eastside, police say
A months-long investigation has led to multiple criminal charges for two Metro Vancouver men allegedly linked to criminal networks trafficking "massive amounts" of stolen property in the Downtown Eastside.
Vancouver police say they launched an undercover sting operation in April, sending officers to the Downtown Eastside to gather evidence related to "rampant trafficking" of stolen goods at a street market on East Hastings Street, between Columbia and Carrall streets.
"These officers saw people openly selling drugs and stolen property," says Insp. Gary Hiar, in a news release.
"Using sophisticated investigative techniques, detectives confirmed that thousands of dollars in stolen property are being moved in and out of the Downtown Eastside every day by people who don't even live in the community."
Officers discovered everything from power tools and electronics still in store packaging to cosmetics, designer clothing and sunglasses that still had anti-theft devices attached to them.
"Although this area has long been a place for marginalized Downtown Eastsiders to find self-worth and make a few dollars by selling second-hand goods, many of those local residents are being pushed out by people who don't live in the neighbourhood, but go there to traffic property," says Hiar.
Police say many locals in the vulnerable neighbourhood are unable to compete with these criminal enterprises and therefore resort back to crime in order to make ends meet.
"The demand for stolen goods is entirely fueled by greed and desperation," says Insp. Alison Laurin. "Impoverished and drug addicted people are now being recruited to steal by predatory fences, who in turn pay pennies on the dollar for stolen goods and resell them to bargain hunters who are all-too-willing to turn a blind eye."
The B.C. Prosecution Service has approved charges against two men who police believe were using the street market to traffic stolen property.
Police say 43-year-old Aaron Castillo-Anguiano from Vancouver has been charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and two counts of possession of proceeds of crime.
He was arrested on June 16 and released from custody pending his next court appearance.
As part of his release conditions, Castillo-Anguiano is now banned from all flea markets, as well as any place in Vancouver that deals with second-hand goods, police say.
Surrey resident Nezamoddin Jelali, 60, has been charged with three counts of possession of stolen property and one count of trafficking stolen property.
Jelali was arrested on June 24 and released from custody pending his next court appearance. Jelali's release conditions prohibit him from visiting the Downtown Eastside.
Police say there could be more arrests as their investigation into stolen property being sold in the Downtown Eastside is ongoing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.