'Prominent and violent' Brothers Keepers gang: Investigation nets multiple criminal charges
Police in British Columbia say they have arrested several people associated with what they call a “prominent and violent” gang following a three-year-long probe into the group known as the “Brothers Keepers.”
In a news conference held in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC) detailed the results of its investigation, including its intelligence-gathering strategy into an organized crime group the unit says is tied to an uptick in opioid trafficking both in the Lower Mainland and across British Columbia.
“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,” said Sgt. Duncan Pound.
Like other organized crime groups, police say the gang recruited young offenders in an effort to avoid criminal charges against older and more established members.
Pound confirmed criminal charges have been laid against the following individuals.
Amandeep Singh Kang, a 29-year-old Vancouver man, has been charged with:
- being one of a group of individuals constituting a criminal organization that knowingly instructed, directly or indirectly any person to commit trafficking in a controlled substance;
- trafficking a controlled substance for the benefit of a criminal organization;
- conspiring to traffic in a controlled substance;
- trafficking a controlled substance; and
- three counts of possessing a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.
Police confirm Kang has been arrested and remains in custody.
Andrew Miguel Best, a 21-year-old Vancouver Island man, has been charged with:
- traffic a controlled substance for the benefit of a criminal organization;
- conspiring to traffic in a controlled substance;
- trafficking a controlled substance; and
- possess a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.
At the time of the news conference, a warrant had been issued for Best's arrest. Since that time, he has been located and arrested.
Dylan Robert Ferris, a 22-year-old male from Surrey, is charged with;
- possessing a restricted firearm without an authorization or licence;
- two counts of possessing a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking;
- trafficking a controlled substance for the benefit of a criminal organization;
- conspiring to traffic in a controlled substance; and
- trafficking a controlled substance.
Ferris has been arrested and remains in custody according to police.
Jannat Bibi Nadeem, a 21-year-old Surrey woman, is charged with:
- being one of a group of individuals constituting a criminal organization that knowingly instructed, directly or indirectly any person to commit trafficking in a controlled substance;
- trafficking a controlled substance for the benefit of a criminal organization;
- conspiring to traffic in a controlled substance;
- trafficking a controlled substance; and
- possessing a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.
Thursday afternoon, a few hours after the CFSEU-BC news conference, a spokesperson for the unit confirmed that Nadeem had been arrested and released from custody. There is no longer an outstanding warrant for her arrest.
Moshmem Khanun Khan, a 45-year-old woman from Surrey, has been charged with:
- trafficking a controlled substance for the benefit of a criminal organization;
- conspiring to traffic in a controlled substance;
- trafficking a controlled substance; and
- possessing a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.
Police say Khan was arrested and released from custody.
Lastly Tanisha Bhatti, a 25-year-old Vancouver woman, is charged with conspiring to traffic in a controlled substance. Police confirm Bhatti was arrested and remains in custody.
Along with the arrests, police confirmed say they have seized more than 11 kilograms of drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Additionally, they say they seized a loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol, laboratory equipment and precursor chemicals utilized in the production and processing of synthetic drugs, and more than over $50,000 in cash.
Police told CTV News the fentanyl seized was coloured purple, which they say is essentially a trademark for the group.
“It's a significant amount. And I think, you know, we can never like as far as I'm concerned as far as the people working in CFSEU-BC are concerned, every dose of fentanyl as a potential life that we could lose,” said Pound, “So taking a larger seizure officer like 7.5 kilograms is significant. No question, taking production capacity, out of play in our communities. Definitely very significant.”
In a matching news release, the CFSEU-BC said it and other police agencies used the Provincial Tactical Enforcement Priority (PTEP) to identify which people associated with gang to target. It also used analytical tools such as Social Network Analysis to quote “unveil intelligence and information” about the Brothers Keepers gang.
“The program provides police agencies from across British Columbia, the opportunity to share organized crime and gang intelligence and to collaborate on enforcement strategies, opportunities and priorities,” Pound said.
“The PTEP program has been in place for several years and is a critical pillar in the organized crime enforcement efforts here in British Columbia.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Iran's president and foreign minister die in helicopter crash at moment of high tensions in Mideast
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's foreign minister were found dead Monday hours after their helicopter crashed in fog, leaving the Islamic Republic without two key leaders as extraordinary tensions grip the wider Middle East.
Jury finds Andrei Donet guilty of second-degree murder in stabbing death of Montreal teen
A jury has found a 21-year-old man guilty of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Montreal teenager Jannai Dopwell-Bailey outside his school in 2021.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects an appeal from a Canadian man once held at Guantanamo
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Canadian-born former Guantanamo detainee who was seeking to wipe away his war crimes convictions, including for killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
Woman, 35, in critical condition after her truck collided with a Via Rail train near Montreal
A 35-year-old woman is in critical condition after the pick-up truck she was driving was struck by a Via Rail passenger train Monday morning in Quebec's Monteregie region.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
Investors watching posts from 'Crytpo King' in the wake of fraud, money laundering charges
Former investors of the self-styled “Crypto King” say they are watching his social media accounts and worried his displays of wealth are signs he’s spending their money, even now, as another large expense tied to Aiden Pleterski has triggered a previously unreported lawsuit.
Britain slammed in inquiry for infecting thousands with tainted blood and covering up the scandal
British authorities and the country's public health service knowingly exposed tens of thousands of patients to deadly infections through contaminated blood and blood products, and hid the truth about the disaster for decades, an inquiry into the U.K.'s infected blood scandal found Monday.
ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Netanyahu
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Monday he is seeking arrest warrants for leaders of Israel and Hamas, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over actions taken during their seven-month war.