Pubdate: Wed, 15 Apr 2015 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc. Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html Website: http://www.theprovince.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Kim Bolan Page: 8 COPS MEET WALL OF SILENCE AS DEALERS FIGHT OVER DRUG TURF SURREY: Gangsters refuse to co-operate despite shootings, police say Two groups of young drug dealers who have been shooting at each other in public places have refused to co-operate with police, even when they have been wounded by flying bullets, Surrey's top cop said Tuesday. Surrey RCMP Chief Supt. Bill Fordy released another eight photographs of young men involved in the battle and said they, along with five others identified last month, are behind 19 brazen shootings in Surrey and North Delta in six weeks. "We believe these two groups are competing over turf and have chosen to jeopardize public safety in that process," Fordy said. "This type of violence is completely unacceptable. Since the very first shooting, the Surrey RCMP has been working diligently with our law enforcement partners in Delta, the RCMP Lower Mainland District and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit." Fordy expressed frustration with the smug arrogance of the young criminals, saying one even told investigators "the bullets fell from the sky" after he was shot. Fordy and acting Delta Police Chief Lyle Beaudoin urged the young gangsters to rethink their behaviour, and tried to reassure the public that police are doing everything they can. Fordy said most of those involved are either South Asian or Somali, and police have reached out to community leaders and families of the young criminals. "This is our No. 1 priority," Fordy said. Beaudoin said Surrey RCMP and Delta Police are working closely together to combat the violence. "You are going to see police cars everywhere," Beaudoin said. Only one person linked to the shootings has so far been charged. As reported Monday, 18-year-old Arman Dhatt is facing a dozen firearms and drugtrafficking charges after his arrest Friday in North Delta. Fordy said Tuesday that Dhatt is still under investigation for a possible link to the shootings. But he said the investigations have been hampered by the total lack of co-operation. "As you can imagine, this lack of cooperation has significantly impacted our ability to make any arrests," he said. Fordy said police have reached out to parents of the young men involved. Some have been surprised. Others were in denial and still others expressed their contempt for the police, Fordy said. Involved in the conflict are Surrey residents Adam Lakatos, Derrick Bequette, Chadanjot Gill, Charandeep Tiwana, Tirath Taggar and Sukhraj Chahal, as well as Delta residents Shakiel Basra and Sukhpreet Pansal Fordy said police are still seeking information about the activities of the men whose names were released last month - Surrey residents Sameh Mohammed, Amrit Kular, Indervir Johal and Pardeep Singh, and Delta resident Pardip Brar. Among the 13 men, Bequette, Gill, Pansal, Taggar, Tiwana, Johal and Singh have all been shot, Fordy said. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt