Brothers Keepers gang member in B.C. sentenced to 11 years in prison
A member of the Brothers Keepers gang in British Columbia, which police describe as an "extremely violent organized crime group," has been sentenced to 11 years in prison on drug-trafficking charges.
Amandeep Singh Kang, 31, pleaded guilty in November to trafficking in controlled substances for the benefit of a criminal organization and conspiracy to traffic in controlled substances.
At his sentencing hearing earlier this month, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Paul Riley described the drugs Kang was connected with as the "worst, most dangerous, and addictive illegal drugs that plague our society," specifically fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine in "substantial amounts."
The Vancouver man was one of six people arrested and charged in 2021, following a three-year investigation by B.C.'s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC) into the Brothers Keepers group.
The provincial anti-gang task force says the Brothers Keepers emerged on B.C.'s organized crime landscape in 2017 and were in immediate and violent conflict with rival groups, including the Red Scorpions, the Wolfpack and the Hells Angels.
The CFSEU-BC says it began to focus its attention on the Brothers Keepers the following year, but the gang has since spread to all parts of the province and expanded into Alberta and Ontario.
'Concerted' and 'persistent' trafficking
When Kang and his alleged associates were arrested in 2021, police said they had seized more than 11 kilograms of drugs, as well as $50,000 in cash, a loaded pistol and lab equipment used to manufacture synthetic drugs.
"CFSEU-BC has noticed several trends within the Brothers Keepers group, including how they aggressively sought to expand into new markets throughout British Columbia, utilizing reduced drug prices, product branding such as purple fentanyl, and increased street-level drug potency,” Sgt. Duncan Pound said when the charges against the group were announced.
The sentencing judge described Kang as "one of the leading members of this organization," noting he was involved in both distributing large quantities of drugs to couriers throughout B.C., along with operating dial-a-dope distribution networks on Vancouver Island.
"The drug-trafficking activity was concerted, it was prolonged in duration, and it was persistent," the judge said.
"I say it was persistent because the trafficking continued after multiple rounds of police enforcement action," he added. "Taking enforcement action was not enough to discourage the group, including Mr. Kang, from continuing on with their activities. They were concerned only with or principally with how to continue without further detection from the police."
'Reflect on the choices that you have made'
At least two others who were arrested alongside Kang have since pleaded guilty to drug charges, including Andrew Miguel, who was sentenced to five years in prison, and Moshmem Khanun Khan, who was given a conditional sentence.
"I can say that while 11 years is a very substantial jail sentence, the sentence being sought here is probably at the low end of the acceptable range, given the nature of the criminal conduct in issue," the judge concluded before addressing Kang directly in court.
"Reflect on the choices that you have made and your associations and what has brought you to this point in your life," he told the offender. "You have a long sentence to serve and time to reflect on those things. If you do not make a decision to take your life in a different direction, likely the best outcome for you is that you will end up back in jail, and the worst outcome is that you will end up being another fatal casualty of organized crime."
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Kaija Jussinoja
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Three dead, two hospitalized, following collision in Fredericton: police
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.
Amid climate change warnings, Canadians lukewarm on electric vehicles
Amid scientists' warnings that nations need to transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate change, Canadians are still lukewarm on electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
1 person killed and 23 injured in a bus crash in northern Maryland, police say
One person was killed and 23 others were injured when a bus crashed early Sunday on Interstate 95 in northern Maryland, police said.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Video shows gaggle of geese stopping traffic on Highway 1 near Vancouver
A mother goose and her goslings caused a bit of a traffic jam on a busy stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway near Vancouver Saturday.
Chemical spill could be cause of stinky water in Puslinch, Ont., new report says
People living in Puslinch, Ont. may have the answer to why their water smelled so bad last year.
Should you save or splurge on makeup this summer?
If you're wondering whether you should splurge or save when it comes to buying skincare products and makeup this summer, we got some answers for you.