'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
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.